Kiso vermilion

The brilliance of good old traditions

The process of applying lacquerware involves applying the paint, polishing it, then applying the paint and polishing it again, over and over again.

Kiso Tsuishu is a type of carved lacquerware with a red surface. Many are made by carving patterns into multiple layers of vermilion lacquer. Tsuishu is so familiar that it can be used to refer to any type of carved lacquer. There are different ways to tell them apart, such as the thickness of the lacquer layers, the layers of colored lacquer visible on the carved opening, and the patterns and carving techniques, but all carved lacquerware with a red surface has come to be called Tsuishu.

Kiso Tsuishu is one of Japan's traditional lacquer crafts, a technique that has been traditionally practiced in the Kiso region. Characterized by the beauty of its vermilion color and its glossy feel, it is highly regarded as a traditional Japanese craft. Its beauty and high quality are achieved through the techniques and handiwork of its artisans.