Try your hand at chopsticks-making at the Urushi Factory Jem workshop.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nRight after sliding through the front door, you will be welcomed by delicate decorations and the quiet-yet-friendly owner of the establishment who is a lacquerer\u2014she is the daughter of a wood carver and niece to a lacquerer. Being raised in such an environment, she naturally decided to unite these two arts and pass along her love of the family craft to curious visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A true jack-of-all-trades, our hostess has crafted an impressive myriad of objects with her own ten fingers: chopsticks, statuettes, jewels, figurines, plates,<\/strong> and many more. All the fans out there will appreciate the centerpiece of her collection just as much as she is proud of it: a miniature\u00a0plastic model\u00a0Gundam traditionally\u00a0carved<\/strong>\u00a0and entirely lacquered by hand.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\nThe variety of products made by Urushi Jiemu’s lacquerer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe craftswoman also had the great idea of exposing unfinished pieces of work, such as this plate left without lacquer, for visitors to better appreciate the different steps of creation. A good outline of the extremely meticulous work and patience required to complete each lacquered object.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOne of the unique skills of this jack-of-all-trades is origami made with copper foil.<\/strong> Folding a simple piece of paper is already quite a challenge. Those of you who have already tried their hands at making just a simple paper crane will be able to appreciate the remarkable precision required to make the same animal using copper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nUrushi Jiemu’s wood carving workshop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s move on to the workbench space! The shop offers 90-minute long wood carving initiation workshops<\/strong>\u2014in my case to carve a pair of chopsticks. Here you can see a training board, with the lines crafted by the master followed by the ones of a beginner, showing the striking contrast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe first step is to select the type of pattern you wish to carve, according to your taste but also your skill level and courage, if not your temerity judging by the complexity of some of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The workshop starts with your pair of chopsticks tightly held by a small vise. But before handling your urajiro<\/em>, a small scalpel with a unique cut that can only be found in the workshops of Murakami<\/strong>, you will first have to draw your carving lines using a pencil with a dry point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nChosen here, a drawing adapted from the well-known Japanese wave pattern called seikaiha<\/em>, but this time without the curve, which would be way too difficult to carve as a beginner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWith a vocabulary that can get quite technical at times, it can be easier to communicate with a drawing. Drawn here, it offers clarifications regarding the angle, depth, and spacing of the grooves to be carved.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor the more complex patterns, the constant guidance and tips provided as you go are precious.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOnce the carving is complete, you will be able to get an idea of how it will all look after being lacquered with a pair of finished chopsticks that the owner has in stock. Your own pair of chopsticks will then be lacquered and sent your way from Murakami by mail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\nIf you don\u2019t manage to complete some details since they require a dexterity that a beginner does not have yet, your teacher will not hesitate to lend you a helping hand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWith a less discreet but nonetheless elegant storefront, Urushi Ohtaki (\u30a6\u30eb\u30b7\u30fb\u30aa\u30fc\u30bf\u30ad<\/strong><\/strong>) will first delight all Piet Mondrian enthusiasts<\/strong> with a design standing out from the rather uniform city architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOnce again immersed in the delicate and quiet atmosphere of lacquerware workshops, you will get to admire hundreds of pieces of work, each one of them more remarkable than the other, before stepping into the back shop and getting behind your own little workbench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAmong the items the craftsman suggests you choose from, you can create these small square-shaped table mats<\/strong> that are about 10 centimeters large. Covered in a mesmerizing black lacquer<\/strong>, you will get to design the drawing of your choice that will appear at the center of it, with the help of various tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe first step is to choose a drawing you like\u2014a task which is harder than it seems given the large choice offered by the many books at your disposal. Abstract or natural patterns or animals, there are thousands of elegant and poetic options available for you to choose from.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nOnce you have made up your mind, it\u2019s time to work! Within seconds, you are transported to a professional workspace, kneeling on a zabuton<\/strong><\/em>, a traditional Japanese pillow,<\/strong> right across from your host who will guide you through the entire process, providing you autonomy with the right amount of support as you make your artistic choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOnce you are done choosing your pattern and drawing it\u2014here is a monkey grooming its baby with a tree leaf on the side\u2014you will have to draw the outline of your pattern a second time and cut it out in order to create a stencil and get started with the first layer of your composition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis first layer will be painted with the sap of an u<\/strong>rushi<\/em>, a tree called Japan\u2019s varnish <\/strong>(which you will be able to find at both shops) with ink extracted from its trunk. It takes about eight years for this tree to be fully grown and it will then be regularly notched to extract as much ink as possible. It’s an amount of ink that remains minimal compared to the many patient years spent waiting for it to grow, as you can only get a bowl full of it before the tree gets cut off. Each drop of it is particularly precious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nDuring the workshop, the master craftsman will demonstrate how to use the various brushes as well as the small stamps of his creation to gently apply the layers of your drawing to the lacquered plate. It is then up to you to follow his tips on color arrangements, rather classic ones, or to go for more audacious choices.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nAfter 90 delightful minutes of work and quietness, punctuated with fresh tea served by the craftsman\u2019s wife, you will be able to contemplate your artwork before it is finalized by your host and then sent to you by mail.<\/p>\n\n\n