amu - Tomonobu Asamura & Tekiseisha-Joboji Collective

A 10,000 Year Old Practice Still Relevant Today

Tomonobu Asamura & Tekiseisha-Joboji Collective are carrying the 10,000 year legacy of Japanese urushi lacquerware into the 21st century. Urushi’s origins go back to the Jōmon period, and have been used to decorate functional boxes, ornamental plates, and panels. This lacquerware was typically found in the homes of nobility in Japan. Most remarkably, the art of lacquering has been passed down from generation to generation, with regional differences in forms and painting styles emerging over time.

Tomonobu Asamura is a woodcarver and sculptor specializing in zelkova wood and the fuki-urash urushi technique, as well as magatama necklaces. He is inspired by the strength and beauty of lacquer and seeks to combine ancient designs and natural materials to create timeless pieces. Many of his motifs come directly from the Jōmon period. He has apprenticed with three master Buddhist carvers and works to conserve and restore Buddhist statues in his spare time, as well as recreating ancient musical instruments such as the Koto (harp). 

The Joboji Collective focuses on creating traditional and practical lacquerware in an area where urushi trees have been growing since 14,000 BCE. First the sap is harvested, then cured. The item being painted is cured and painted with a base of crude lacquer, then an undercoating of lacquer and red oxide is applied, this coating process is repeated several times until the coating is sufficiently thick. In the Joboji area, lacquer-coated stone swords and Doki pottery have been found, showing just how long lacquerware has persisted in Japan.