Kazuyuki Yoshikawa

In Takaoka, a town where tradition and innovation intersect, Kazuyuki Yoshikawa is a young maki-e lacquer artist who has inherited techniques that have been passed down since the Edo period. With the tools he inherited from his father, Yoshikawa entered the world of lacquer.​

"Beauty resides in the time and effort" - so he says of his work, in which the luster of the lacquer and the ephemeral white of eggshells quietly harmonize, creating unique expressions that will stay in the memory of anyone who touches them.​

His attention to materials and techniques is evident in every detail, and he works quietly late at night, when no dust flies. He is currently deeply involved in the local community as a bearer of a traditional industry, and is committed to activities that connect skills and culture to the next generation.

Map of Japan with Toyama Prefecture highlighted.

Thoughts

I felt a sense of crisis: will my father's skills be lost and will these tools be thrown away? And a sense of mission to carry on my father's skills began to grow.​

I feel that the charm of maki-e is that it shows various expressions depending on how the light hits it and the angle from which you view it, and I am attracted to its depth and diversity.

Techniques

Among the various forms of lacquer decoration, I specialize in maki-e, and I create a variety of pictures using gold, silver, and abalone.​ As lacquer does not have a white color, I incorporate a technique called 'eggshell painting' that uses quail eggshells.

This technique is not only suitable for expressing color using the white of eggs, but also for using cracks to express an ephemeral texture.​ Furthermore, when creating my pieces, I often work late at night to avoid the effects of dust and wind.

Future

While continuing to hone my skills as a maki-e artist, I also focus on activities that look to the future of traditional industries.​

As the 46th chairman of the Takaoka Traditional Industry Youth Association, I work to address the issue of a shortage of people to carry on traditional industries by interacting with other production areas and exchanging techniques.​

I also promote the appeal of Takaoka's craftsmanship through ongoing events that can be attended by people of all ages, from the young to the older generation.

Maki-e artist Kazuyuki Yoshikawa is driven by a strong sense of mission that the traditional techniques he inherited from his father will disappear if he doesn't carry them on, and works hard every day to pass on their charm to the next generation.​

Fascinated by the beauty of lacquer, which changes appearance depending on the amount of light and angle, he continues to create works that combine traditional techniques with his own unique sensibility.​
In particular, he is particular about every detail, such as the ‘eggshell paint’ used to express white colors and working late at night to avoid dust.​

In addition to honing his skills, with an eye to the future of Takaoka's traditional industries, he also works to bridge the gap between the region and industry, such as by planning and managing events that involve the younger generation in manufacturing, and is opening up new possibilities for maki-e while interweaving tradition and innovation.