Hiroyuki Watanabe studied the craft of Urushi ( Japanese lacquer) during his undergraduate years before receiving his masters degree in Industrial Arts from the prestigious Tokyo University of the Arts. He has since been teaching, holding workshops on woodcraft and authored a book, while also producing and exhibiting his handmade utensils and tableware.
See  Hiroyuki Watanabe’s work in the online shop here

Dry flower vases. Cherry with colored urushi (lacquer)

Wood plates

Watanabe's book offers 14 lessons on creating simple wooden tableware.

After completing his studies in philosophy, Urushi (lacquerware) artist Akito Akagi worked as an editor for kateigaho magazine where he wrote about art and design. Encounters with lacquer masters Azuma Hideo and Kado Isaburô inspired him to pursue his interest in the craft and he began an apprenticeship with the lacquer master Okamoto Susumu.

Akagi founded his own workshop in 1994 and now has several apprentices himself. His work has been exhibited throughout Japan and has admirers both in Japan and abroad.

Akagi’s work is functional rather than merely decorative and includes everything from furniture, to tableware and spoons. He has also been an avid practitioner of the Way of Tea for many years and often creates tools for Tea Ceremony.

Magewappa is one of the most beautiful examples of traditional Japanese woodcraft. Akita cedar from 200-year-old trees is stripped, boiled, bent and tied together with bark from cherry trees. Only Akita cedars over 100 hundred years old, which have survived the very severe weather conditions of northern Japan, can be bent in the manufacturing process. The wood has a beautiful straight grain which is accentuated by the curves in the finished products.

Yoshinobu Shibata and his son Yoshimasa represent two generations of Magewappa artisians that are carrying on the tradition, producing both traditional wares and contemporary products that reflect modern tastes and needs.

Bento (lunch) Box ¥13,650 Buttercase ¥7,350 Available here

Atushi Honda ( Kobo Isado) uses a variety of repurposed woods to produce his simple, beautifully textured cutting boards. We also love his little wooden houses and plan to have some in the shop this autumn.

Furoshiki are a type of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth that was frequently used to carry clothes, gifts, or other goods. The name which literally means “bath spread”, derives from the Edo period practice of using them to bundle clothes while bathing at the sento (public baths). These days Furoshiki are seen as an environmentally friendly, reusable and more attractive substitute to plastic bags. They are remarkably versatile, and with practice allow you to wrap almost anything regardless of its shape or size. Tsuchiya’s furoshiki are made of handwoven cotton silk at her studio in Nara. The patch accent is made of 100% linen.

Material: Cotton Silk / Linen , Dimensions: 70cm×70cm
¥8,400
available here

black glaze and ash glaze cups from sfera

yunomi (teacup) ¥2,000 cup and saucer ¥3,400
available here

Beautifully shaped hand turned bowls in natural oak by Kihachi studio. Kihachi is the oldest producer of wood products in the Yamanaka region of Japan, long famous for its exquisite lacquerware. The perfect, thin forms are created on a rokuro (electric wheel), a technique Kihachi’s craftsmen have mastered over six generations.

dimensions: dia11.0cm H7.0cm ¥3,500
available here

Shigeru Teraji, a Kyoto based artisan skilled in the ancient metalware craft of Tankin, uses his hammer to shape and give subtle texture to these modern copper pots from Sfera.

available here

small dia 8.0cm×H9.5cm ¥12,600 large dia 8.0cm×H14.5cm ¥14,700

Metalware artist Kanehen creates utensils and tableware using tools to beat delicate patterns into the surface of her chosen materials. For a change she created this oversized mobile in brass with leaf inspired patterns.

kanehen’s work is available here