Ya m a k y u J a p a n w a r e

EnglishVo l . 1

About “towan” and Wood Workshop
Urushi lacquerware, which has been loved for thousandsof years, is completed by sawing the wood by woodworker
called “Kijishi” and applying urushi lacquer by lacquerer
called “Nurishi”. In the olden days, woodworkers roamed them o u n t a i n s a n d m a d e t h e i r l i v i n g m a k i n g p o t t e r y.
I n t h e a u t u m n o f 2 0 2 0 , Ya m a k y u L a c q u e r w a r e C o . , c e l e b r a t e di t s 9 0 t h a n n i v e r s a r y, s e t u p a w o r k s h o p t o g r i n d t h e w o o d e nbase of bowls in a place rich in nature and started a new
production activities.
In the workshop, craftsmen skillfully use a knife called“Kanna”, and you can see the handiwork of the craftsmen who
carefully create beautiful bowls and other items one by one
from natural wood.
Lifestyles change little by little, but even in today’s
lifestyles, we want to work on making the products basedon the craftsman’s spirit and skills that have been put into
making bowls, and want to propose a gentle life with Urushi
lacquerware preserving the beauty and tradition that Japanesepeople love. With these thoughts, the brand name “towan” wasborn.
It will be most appreciated if you can feel the gentleness andgracefulness of the lacquerware somewhere in the modern
colors and shapes of the towan items. Please enjoy using thetowan for many years to come.
S i n c e r e l y,
Ta i z o Y a m a m o t o , C E O
Ya m a k y u J a p a n w a r e C o . , L t d .

001

002

Japanware

towan

jy1004twjy1005twjy1006tw¥4,200¥4,200¥4,200

towan 3 Tier Box M
SAKURA

towan 3 Tier Box M
SUMIRE

115×115×H117mm
Material: D

115×115×H117mm

Coating: B

Material: D

Coating: B※The lid and main body can be sold individually. Please contact us for details.
Material typeCoating type

A: Natural Wood
A: Urushi lacquer
B: Wood powder and synthetic resin moldings B: Urethan paint
C: Urea resin
D: ABS resin003

towan 3 Tier Box M
SORA
115×115×H117mm
Material: D

Coating: B

towan重箱
JubakoJapanware

jy1001twjy1002twjy1003tw¥3,800¥3,800¥3,800

towan 3 Tier Box SSAKURA
92×92×H117mm
Material: D

Coating: B

towan 3 Tier Box S
SUMIRE
92×92×H117mm
Material: D

towan 3 Tier Box S
SORA
92×92×H117mm

Coating: B※The lid and main body can be sold individually. Please contact us for details.

004

Material: D

Coating: B

towan

重箱Trinity

Jubakojy1007twtowan 3 Tier Box L
Trinity Lid:SAKURA¥6,800

168×168×H155mm
jy1008twtowan 3 Tier Box L
Trinity Lid:SUMIRE¥6,800

168×168×H155mm
jy1009twtowan 3 Tier Box L
Trinity Lid:SORA
Japanware¥6,800

168×168×H155mm
Material: D

Coating: B※accessories: 1 band, 3 inner lids

jy1010tw

towan Cross partition platefor 3 tier box L¥600

160×34×3mm
Material: A

Coating: B

jy1011twtowan Multiple partition platefor 3 tier box L¥1,200160×34×3mm
Material: A

Coating: B005

towan

箸Chopsticks

Japanwareka1001twtowan Chopsticks 22.5cmSAKURA¥1,200Material: A

Coating: B※Dishwasher safe

ka1002twtowan Chopsticks 22.5cm
SUMIRE¥1,200Material: A

Coating: B※Dishwasher safe006

ka1003twtowan Chopsticks 22.5cm
SORA¥1,200Material: A

Coating: B※Dishwasher safe

towanフォレス トForest

Japanware

Forestsa1002twsa1003twsa1004twtowan Forest Wooden Plate
φ12cm HANA

towan Forest Wooden Plate
φ12cm TSUKI

towan Forest Wooden Plate
φ12cm YUKI

φ126×H10mm

φ120×H10mm

φ122×H10mm

Material: A

Material: A

Material: A¥3,100Coating: B¥3,100Coating: B007

¥3,100Coating: B

towansa1001tw

sa2001tw

gu1041twtowan Forest Wooden Plate
φ7cm HANA

towan Forest Wooden Plate
φ20cm HANA（花）towan Free-to-use Glass
φ8cm

φ70×H10mm

φ200×H15mm

φ80×H60mm

Material: A

Material: AGlass¥2,700Coating: B¥9,000Coating: B¥680

Japanware※Different size Plates, Example of use.

008

towan

葉風

木 製 スプ ーンJapanware

Wooden spoon hafu~※Large Spoon, Example of use.

009

towanJapanware※Duck Spoon, Example of use.

ka2001hf

ka2002hf

ka2003hf¥2,800¥2,900¥2,900Hafu Spoon, small(Fuki-urushi*1)
150×30×H16mm
Material: A

Coating: A

Hafu Spoon, large(Fuki-urushi*1)
190×38×H21mm
Material: A

Hafu Duck Spoon(Fuki-urushi*1)
168×37×H25mm

Coating: A

Fuki-urushi*1
A technique whereby raw lacquer is applied and then wiped off
repeatedly with a cotton cloth.Also called Suri-urushi. It shows thetexture and grain of the wood .

Material: A

Coating: A

design:Hisakazu Suzuki010

towan長 角 プレー トsa2002tw

towan Rectangular plate
SAKURA／SUMIRE¥2,300Japanware

Material: DLong Square Plate

330×90×H5mm
Coating: Bsa2003twtowan Rectangular plate
SAKURA／SORA¥2,300330×90×H5mm
Material: D

Coating: B

sa2004twtowan Rectangular plate
SORA／SUMIRE¥2,300330×90×H5mm
Material: D

Coating: B

011

towanha1002tw¥4,800¥4,800

towan Square reversible Place Mat
SAKURA／SUMIRE
330×330×H5mm
Material: A

Coating: B

towan Square reversible Place Mat
SORA／SUMIRE
330×330×H5mm
Material: A

正 角 リ バー シ ブルマット

Square reversible place mat

ha1001tw

Coating: B

Japanware012

towanブ ラック シルバー
ホワ イ ト&Japanware

Black silver & white

wa2004sy

ha1006sy

Soup Bowl
black silver

Square reversible Place Mat¥4,500

φ120×H100mm
Material: B

Coating: B

jy1013ns

jy1012ns

right angle 3 Tier Box
black silver

right angle 3 Tier Box
black silver¥5,800¥13,000¥17,000

Material: A

Material: B

Material: B

black silver／white silver
330×330×H6mm

135×135×H135mm

Coating: B

013

Coating: B

165×165×H165mm
Coating: B

towanwa2003sp

Soup Bowl

wa2007sy

wa2006sy

Soup Bowl
SHAKU-YAKU
white,black inside
φ120×H100mm

white,black inside
φ90×H95mm

φ76×H95mm

φ76×H95mm

Material: B

Material: C

Material: C¥2,200Coating: B¥3,900¥5,100

Coating: B

wa2005sy

Soup Bowl
SHAKU-YAKU
black silver

Soup Bowl
SHAKU-YAKU
white

Coating: B¥4,500
Material: B

Coating: B

Japanware

014towan

ha3004sy

Rectangular Joint Tray
white／black¥3,500sa3002sy

sa3001sy

Compotewhite

Compoteblack silver¥2,500¥3,900300×150×H15mm

φ138×H57mm

φ138×H57mm

Material: A

Material: DMaterial: D

Coating: B

Coating: B

Japanware

Coating: B

gu2042sy

sa3004sy

sa3003sy

white silver

black silver

upper：φ138／middle：φ180／lower：φ240mm
height when set 330mm

upper：φ138／middle：φ180／lower：φ240mm
height when set 330mm

Tea Cup and Saucer
SHAKU-YAKU
black silver

Tiered Tea Stand

cup：96×117×H53mm
saucer：φ138×H11mm¥6,500CUP

Material: DSAUCER

Material: C

Coating: B¥11,400

Material: B

Coating: B

015

Tiered Tea Stand¥11,400

Material: B

Coating: B

towanJapanware

jy1033sp

jy1015sp¥7,000¥9,000right angle 3 Tier Box
white, black inside
135×135×H135mm

jy1034sp

jy1016sp

right angle 3 Tier Box
white, black insideright angle 3 Tier Box
blackright angle 3 Tier Box
black

165×165×H165mm

135×135×H135mm

165×165×H165mm

Material: B¥7,000Coating: B¥9,000Material: B016

Coating: B

towan日月
Nichi getsu

wa2001nc

Soup Bowl
white, black inside¥4,200φ120×H103mm

Japanware

Material: B

Coating: B

wa2002nc

Soup Bowl
black¥4,200φ120×H103mm
Material: B

Coating: B

bo1001nc

Salad Bowl Swhite¥2,300φ157×H53mm
Material: B

017

Coating: B

towanwa3001nc

Soup Bowl
white, black inside¥4,700φ130×H114mm
Material: B

Coating: B

Japanware

wa3002nc

Soup Bowl
black¥4,700φ130×H114mm
Material: B

Coating: B

ka3008nc

Chopstick Restwhite¥900

45×45×H10mm
Material: B

Coating: B018

シンプ ル

モ ダン
Simple & modern

Japanware

towan&019

towanin5006sp

ka2007sp

ka2008sp¥3,200¥2,500¥2,500

Chestnut shape box
white, gold inside
φ60×H55mm
Material: B

Serverblack

205×60mm

Coating: B¥1,700φ155×H55mm
Coating: B

bo1003sp

Material: D

205×60mm

Coating: B

bo1004sp

Salad Bowl M
white¥2,900φ215×H70mm
Material: B

Material: D

Coating: B

bo1006sp

Salad Bowl L
white¥4,500φ275×H95mm

Coating: B

bo1005sp

Material: B

Coating: B

bo1007sp

Salad Bowl S
black

Salad Bowl M
black

φ155×H55mm

φ215×H70mm

φ275×H95mmMaterial: B

Material: B

Material: B¥1,700Coating: B¥2,900Coating: B

020

Salad Bowl L
black¥4,500

Coating: B

Japanwarebo1002sp

Salad Bowl S
white

Material: B

Serverwhitetowan

sa1005sp

sa1006sp

sa1007sp

sa1008sp

Square Plate S
dark redSquare Plate S
black

sa2006sp

sa2007sp

sa2008sp

Japanware

Square Plate L
black

150×150×H25mm

Material: B

Square Plate L
white

ka3005sp

ka3006sp

ka3007sp

225×225×H30mm

Material: B

Square Small Dish Square Small Dishdark redwhite

60×60×H15mm

ha1003sp

ha1004sp

ha1005sp¥3,300¥3,300¥3,000394×349×H4mm
Material: D

Coating: B

Tray ＆ Platewhite
320×320×H20mm
Material: D

Coating: B021

Square Placing Mat
white
320×320×H5mm
Material: D

Coating: B

each¥800

Square Small Dish Square Small Dishblackvermilion

Half moon reversible Mat
white／black

Coating: B

each¥3,300

Square Plate L
vermilion

ka3004sp

Coating: B

each¥2,000

Square Plate S
vermilion

sa2005sp

Square Plate L
dark redMaterial: B

Square Plate S
white

Coating: B

towanJapanware022

023

132

56

Photograph47

1,5 Tomohiro Mazawa
2,3,6 Kazumi Yamada
4 Kenji Mori
7 Hiroko Kawano024

towanQ&A with Mr. Taizo Yamamoto, CEOYAMAKYU Japanware Co., Ltd.

Mr. Taizo Yamamoto, CEOQ : First of all, congratulations on your company’s 90th anniversary. I heard that you areJapanware

the third generation president. Can you tell me about the history of your company?
Yamamoto

A : Yamakyu Japanware Company started in 1930 by my grandfather, Kyutaro Yamamoto,certified as Japanese traditional lacquer craftsman. After that, my father founded thecompany, and we have been working closely with the local craftsmen to produce variousproducts, especially New Year’s products such as multi-tiered boxes, Toso sake sets,and Zoni bowls for soup dish with rice cake to celebrate new years.

Q : I see. Your company has been concentrating to the Japanese traditional urushi products.
I wonder if it must be the big challenge for you to release “towan” series products
this time. How was the customers’ reaction?
Yamamoto

A : I was so happy to see the new customers who have never used or bought urushi
lacquerware before. By sticking to feminine and gentle colors, we were able to attract
the interest of many female customers. I think we were able to shorten the distance
between the customers and urushi lacquerware products.

Q : Continuing from towan, you released “Forest” series products this time. I felt that thetexture of the natural wood and the beautiful cut were so impressive. What is the reason
for sticking to domestic natural wood?
Yamamoto

A : Yes, we decided to use Japanese natural ash wood, after many trials with other variouswoods. Japanese ash wood was the best selection considering the color, grain of thewood and its durability.
025

towanQ : I wonder if it is quite difficult to stick to a single-plate products, isn’t it?
Yamamoto

A : You are right. The wood grain is directly reflected in the product, so the initial material
selection is very important. Since it is a natural tree, it is easy to deform depending on
its size, so we designed and completed it while solving each problem.
The craftsmanship is alive in the beauty of the wood grain cut, so please pay attention
to each product we named HANA, TSUKI and YUKI.

Q : I heard that you started a new workshop to grind the wood of lacquerware.
Yamamoto

A : Craftsmen called “Kijishi” create beautifully shaped vessels one by one from naturalwood, and lacquerers called “Nurishi” apply urushi lacquer to complete them.
That is the origin of making lacquerware. It is important to nurture craftsmen throughthe workshop and convey their activities to many people. As a lacquerware maker,
I believe that the workshop is necessary to convey my commitment to craftsmanship.

produced. What kind of products do you have in mind for the future?
Yamamoto

A : For many years, we at Yamakyu have focused on meticulous painting techniques.
We will continue to focus on the beauty of colors and finishes, as well as invisible
durability, to create products that customers can feel the quality of.

Q : Last of all, what is “Japan lacquerware” for you, Yamamoto-san?
Yamamoto

A : I think that Japan lacquerware is a vessel that can make you become gentle byusing it. It has a delicate image, but unlike glass or pottery, it does not break evenif dropped and can be repainted. I think that the more you use it with love, themore it responds properly.

Interviewer :Table coordinatortowan brand director

Mieko Mizutani026

Japanware

Q : I see. The workshop is a place where both traditional and modern lacquerware are山久漆工株式会社〒9 16-1222 福井県鯖江 市 河 和 田 町 2 0 -4 -6
Te l ： 0778.65.0101 / Fa x ： 0 7 7 8 .6 5 . 2 3 7 3
www.y a m a k y u - u r u s h i . co .jp

工房 九〒9 2 3－0 3 3 5 石川県小松市滝ケ原町タ-6（03/2023 ）