The Red Beauty

Hida mountains from Takayama-city,Gifu Pref.

Surrounded by the Japanese North Alps (Hida Mountains) and the Ryouhaku Mountains, The center of the Hida region, Takayama-city, where Hida Shunkei is born, lays quietly preserving Japanese traditions still in their lifestyles.

Shunkei is a lacquer coating technique created in the 14th Century by a monk named Shunkei that uses a clear lacquer to allow the natural grain of the wood to see-through and also creating a glossy surface.

The history and the tradition of "Hida" Shunkei date back 400 years to early 1600, starting of the Edo-Period. It started from one master carpenter Kizaemon Takahashi, who was fascinated by the beauty of the wood grain, created a clam-shaped tray that expresses its raw beauty. Then it leads to coat urushi lacquer by a master coater, preserving the beauty, which eventually was highly appreciated by the Takayama lord family. Since then, Hida Shunkei expresses the characteristic finish that emits the clear beauty of the wood grain and the glossy yet deep signature color.

We hope you would find what attracts your souls and minds.