This is a traditional craft from Kyushu. Due to its warm climate and abundant rainfall, Kyushu has long been a major producer of bamboo, and the manufacturing of bamboo crafts has flourished here. This craft began in the 1800s when a lacquerware artisan from Kyoto started applying lacquer to bamboo wares.
The production process for this type of lacquered bamboo ware, called Rantai Shikki, is divided into four main stages: weaving, priming, lacquering, and polishing.
Among these, the weaving of the bamboo strips and the priming—the surface treatment before lacquering—require particular precision. Making bamboo strips of uniform thickness and width, and flawlessly filling the many bumps and holes with polishing powder, requires a high level of skill.
After this, the lacquer is applied and polished repeatedly to create a beautiful luster. The signature mottled pattern is a result of this polishing process. It's created by sanding the lacquered bamboo basket, which partially removes the lacquer along the weave and reveals the base color underneath. Over-polishing can strip away the base color, making it difficult to apply the right amount of pressure evenly, which requires advanced technique.
