Urushi Art in Kagawa Pref. is called Sanuki Shitsugei: Sanuki means Kagawa Prefecture, and Sitsugei means Urushi art.
In the late Edo period (1603-1867) , Zokoku Tamakaji studied uniquely decorated pieces from China and Southeast Asia, added his own techniques, perfected them, and established some Japanese style techniques.
A wide variety of products are still produced and sold today, including not only arts and crafts, but also trays, tables, and shelves.
Kagawa Urushi Lacquerware Institute was established in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Pref. in 1954. There are only two such public institutions in Japan: Ishikawa Prefectural Wajima Institute of Lacquer Arts in Wajima City (established in 1967) and this institute.
I studied Urushi Art at the Institute in Kagawa Pref.

Techniques

Zokoku Tamakaji studied the three techniques of "kinma", "choshitsur," and "zonsei" from pieces imported from overseas, and established the Japanese style techniques. The five techniques, including "Zokoku-nuri" and "Goto-nuri," have been designated as Sanuki Traditional Crafts by the Japanese government.

Kagawa Urushi Lacquerware Institute preserves these three techniques, fosters successors, and improves techniques.
Not only residents of Kagawa Prefecture, but also individual artists using Sanuki Shitsugei are active throughout Japan.

History

Sanuki Shitsugei began in the late Edo period by Zokoku Tamakaji, an engraver of urushi in Takamatsu. He studied and imitated urushi ware imported from China and Southeast Asia, which was completely different from the mainstream of maki-e (sprinkled picture decoration with gold) of Edo and Kyoto, and produced highly finished pieces. The lord of Takamatsu encouraged it, and Sanuki Shitsugei flourished.

"Works of Zokoku Tamakaji (1806-1869)"(Cultural Heritage Online)
"Works of Joshin Isoi (1883-1964)"(Japan Kōgei Association)
"Works of Kodo Otomaru (1898-1997)"(Japan Kōgei Association)
"An exhibition of Bokkei Akashi (1911-1992)"(PDF file of Takamatsu Art Museum)

Kagawa Urushi Lacquerware Institute

Kagawa Urushi Lacquerware Institute was established in 1954 to preserve the traditional urushi techniques of Kagawa Prefecture, such as kinma, zonsei, and choshitsu, and to train successors and improve the techniques of them. [3]
Some chief instructors are Kagawa Prefecture's Living National Treasures, and equally important teachers from Tokyo, Wajima, and other areas also visit there as instructors and provide direct instruction.
The institute accepts 10 students each year, and there are no entrance fees or tuition fees. In addition to the three techniques, students can also learn painting, designing, modeling, and kanshitsu to create a body. After completing the three-year course, there is also a more advanced course for researchers.
In the urushi industry, where the division of labor is common, there is no other place where one can learn a complete range of techniques from creating a body to decorating on it. Being able to make a body for urushi piece is a great advantage for freelance artisans. Students learn from the unique ideas and production methods of each of the teachers, receive advice on designs, and learn in a variety of comprehensive ways. For those who want to learn urushi art, this is the best place to do so. Many seniors are also active all over Japan, and there are a lot of opportunities to interact extensively with them.

References

1.	Koichiro Sumitani. (2005). “Sanuki Urushi Art: Genealogy of a Craft Kingdom”. Kawade Shobo Shinsha.
2.	Koichiro Sumitani. (2016). "Biography of Zokoku Tamakaji: A founder of Kagawa Urushi Art" under the supervision of Kagawa Prefecture. Kyoryudo.
3.	Kagawa Urushi Lacquerware Institute

All of them are in Japanese.

2024.05.14