Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture, a city surrounded by mountains, is known as Japan's oldest lacquerware production area. This region, with many cloudy days, is one of the wettest regions in the country. It is said that the harsh cold of winter, when snow piles up, is the ideal environment for lacquer to harden. Toru Uchida, the 1793th generation owner of Shirindo, which was founded in this area in 2020, continues to inherit traditional techniques while trying to convey the charm of Echizen lacquerware in a more casual manner. With the desire to ``want people to use lacquer on a daily basis,'' he has released ``dishwasher-safe lacquer bowls'' and lacquer bowls with rich colors to the market. Furthermore, in January XNUMX, we launched a new brand "RIN & CO." that comprehensively deals with manufacturing created by Hokuriku's unique climate. Behind the establishment of a brand that handles not only Echizen lacquerware, but also various Hokuriku crafts such as washi paper, woodwork, pottery, cutlery, and textiles, was Uchida's strong determination to ``revitalize the production areas of Hokuriku.'' Ta.
Story: Toru Uchida
When it comes to lacquer, Wajima lacquerware is famous nationwide, but not many people know that Echizen lacquerware is top-class in Japan in terms of production volume and number of craftsmen. Until now, we have been making traditional Echizen lacquerware. For example, it is high-quality lacquerware for commercial use, such as those used in restaurants. This is still the main part of our business, but about 10 years ago we started looking for ways to offer something to ordinary families. As a result, we started new initiatives such as creating pop lacquerware using colored lacquer. As a result, young people who are interested in this kind of work join us, and little by little they are starting to become active as lacquer artists.
The reason behind the decline in the number of craftsmen is the lack of recruitment. Shirushindo is hiring young people after graduating from university.
In the past, it was a world where learning by watching was the norm, such as in the apprenticeship system, but today's young people are of the smartphone generation. Even when I'm at work, I always have my smartphone with me. To help these young people learn how to paint, we have them record videos with their smartphones. Young lacquer artists watch the videos over and over again and memorize the techniques, so times have changed dramatically. However, it is the fastest and easiest to understand. I can't wait 10 years to become a full-fledged person like I used to.
A directly managed store of Shirushindo located in Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture. There is a shop, showroom, and workshop here, and you can also tour the factory.
Shirindo is a lacquerware shop that has been manufacturing products in the Hokuriku region for 227 years, so people around us often ask us about the importance of history and tradition. But actually, I don't really feel it weighs much on me. Rather, I feel that we must change with the times. Even if you look back at the history of Shirushindo, you will notice that each generation has done slightly different things. Times are changing, distribution is changing, the people we sell to are changing, and what is needed is changing. Especially recently, it has become important to create things from the customer's perspective.
A shop located in Shirushirindo's directly managed store. You can actually touch all of Shirushindo's items, including their own brand ``Aisomo Cosomo'' and ``Owan and His Uchida.''
In order to meet the needs of society, we have collaborated with universities and local governments to create lacquerware that can be washed in the dishwasher. The product, which met the criteria of being able to withstand heat of 120 degrees and can be used every day for three years, became an instant hit. In this way, while inheriting technology, we always strive to create products that are current with the times.
On the other hand, there are many things that remain the same when passing down technology, and that should not be changed. It is no exaggeration to say that our day at work is determined by the things we do in the morning. Every morning, I spend about two hours getting ready to apply it. Prepare the lacquer, strain it, and take care of the brush. Especially with brushes, if you leave them alone they will harden, so you need to soften them. After that, I clean my surroundings, and no matter how early I start painting, it's around 9 o'clock. Things that don't change over time, and things that change over time. We create products by blending these ingredients in just the right way.
RIN&CO. is a new brand that manufactures products using traditional techniques and craftsmen from Hokuriku. Currently, the store sells products such as Echizen hard lacquer vessels, Shiro Kutani vessels, Echizen woodworking trays, and Echizen washi paper bags.
Furthermore, in January 2020, we launched a new brand called "RIN & CO." “RIN” stands for “Reason In Northland,” and “CO.” stands for “local production area and local friends.” The main products that make up "RIN & CO." are Echizen hard lacquer vessels, but they also have beautiful Echizen wood grain trays, which have been used for preserving lacquer since ancient times. We offer a variety of products, including plain white Kutani ware and pochi bags made from Echizen washi paper, which has a history of 1500 years.
Shirindo is a company that has been manufacturing products in Hokuriku for a long time. That's why we want to encourage and support the production area as a whole. There are still many wonderful makers in Hokuriku. In the future, we would like to use RIN&CO. as an opportunity to increase opportunities for more people to learn about Hokuriku manufacturing.
(Titles omitted)
Toru Uchida
Shirushindo Representative Director and President
Born in 1976. The 1793th generation of Echizen lacquerware manufacturer Shirushirindo, founded in 15. He mainly specializes in the undercoating and topcoating of round objects (bowls, plates, etc.). For 2015 years, he trained under his grandfather and father as a base coater and top coater for lacquerware production, and mastered the technique of finishing everything from the base wood to the top coat to a uniform thickness and making the paint film uniform. In 300, he joined the Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Headquarters at the University of Fukui. He conducted research on lacquer together with the prefecture and universities and developed a highly heat-resistant lacquer, leading to the development of a ``dishwasher-safe lacquer bowl.'' Selected as one of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's ``2013 small and medium-sized enterprises that do their best''. He employed young craftsmen to pass on his skills and became a leader in local industry and tourism. In XNUMX, he became the youngest person in the history of the production area to be certified as a ``Traditional Craftsman in the Traditional Craft Echizen Lacquerware Category Designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry''.
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