About Tsugaru Lacquerware
Tsugaru lacquerware is produced mainly in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture. Said to have started around 1670 during the era of the fourth Tsugaru domain lord. Its most distinctive feature is 'kawari-nuri' (variant lacquer), with four techniques: Kara-nuri, Nanako-nuri, Nishiki-nuri, and Monsha-nuri. Creating unique colorful mottled patterns requires dozens of layering and polishing cycles. It was one of the first areas designated as a Traditional Craft in 1976.
Techniques & Materials
Craft terms are shown in the original Japanese — these are proper names with no standard English equivalents.
Techniques
唐塗（からぬり）七々子塗（ななこぬり）錦塗（にしきぬり）紋紗塗（もんしゃぬり）
Materials
天然漆木地色漆
Where to see & buy
Workshop names are in Japanese; links go to their official sites.
- 津軽藩ねぷた村 hands-on experience