Cutting a tsuishitsu board.

Tsuishitsu is a thickened urushi (Japanese lacquer) board that was applied over dozens of times. Cutting is done with a thread saw for metal. It is very thin, so the saw breaks frequently. It broke again today.


Cutting a tsuishitsu board made of urushi (Japanese lacquer).

After cutting the shape, the surface is carved to be decolated. The delicate layers of urushi on the sides and the surface with choshitsu are beautiful and it has a charm not found in other techniques.

Leaf-shaped incense container by Shozo Kitaoka

"Leaf-shaped incense container" by Shozo Kitaoka
D4.3 x W7.8 x H1.8 cm


Mr. Kitaoka often made tea containers and incense containers by pasting together tsuishitsu boards. He sometimes gave the small pieces he had left over to young people, and he shared some of them with me during my apprenticeship.
Small pieces of tsushitsu (piled lacquer) board.

Small pieces of colorful tsushitsu (piled lacquer) board.


I made some tsuishitsu board before, and now I use it to make some accessories using it.
I'm going to make some necklaces in different colors which I have been making as standard.

2024.10.28
tr. 2025.01.28