By
AFP
Published
December 30, 2024
Lacquer maker Takaho Shoji leans over his desk in the disaster-stricken city of Wajima in central Japan, applying another layer of coating to a dark wooden box.
Brushstroke by brushstroke, the 53-year-old is determined to bring life back to his remote community after a devastating earthquake on New Year's Day, followed by severe flooding.
“I need to do everything I can to move forward with the rebuilding, continue this tradition and pass it on to the next generations,” said the soft-spoken father of two.
“We have to work harder together, otherwise the local lacquerware industry will fade away.”
Wajima, a coastal city with a population of just over 20,000, is a nationally renowned center of fine lacquerware.
The products made there are known as Wajima-nuri, and a basic bowl of soup can cost $150 or more.
This year brought death and suffering to the city and surrounding communities at the tip of the Noto Peninsula.
As families prepared for their New Year's dinners, a terrifying 7.5 magnitude tremor accompanied by powerful aftershocks destroyed homes and businesses.
Large fires, a tsunami and landslides devastated the region, forcing most residents and their visiting relatives to flee to evacuation shelters.
Then, as they tried to rebuild their lives, torrential rains flooded the city in September and destroyed more homes.
The disasters also shattered the network of about 700 artisans and workers in Wajima's lacquerware industry, which has been losing workers like other fine crafts.
The damage to the city has been so extensive that city officials are not even sure how many artisans are still active.
Wajima-nuri is known for its durability and delicate designs and is often used in tableware such as bowls and chopsticks.
With its understated elegance, the technique is also used to create high-end furniture and home decor.
More than 100 steps are involved in the production of Wajima-nuri. Tasks are distributed among specialized craftsmen, some focusing on lacquer coating and others on carving and modeling.
Among the city's lacquer professionals trying to restore the network of artisans is Taiichi Kirimoto, seventh-generation owner of a Wajima-nuri studio.
He and his wife now live in his company's gallery after losing their home, but he has wasted little time moving on.
He worked with renowned architect Shigeru Ban to build temporary workspaces made from cardboard materials, and has traveled around the country promoting his studio's work and providing workplaces for artisans.
“Lacquered items bring a feeling of comfort, warmth and well-being to people. Perhaps this is different from modern comfort,” said Kirimoto, who has worked with major brands such as Louis Vuitton.
“I don't see the option at all of leaving this city or moving on to another profession.”
Among Kirimoto's craftsmen is Shoji, a coating specialist.
Shoji, an avid fisherman, was alone in a local harbor late in the afternoon when the earthquake struck, knocking him onto his back.
The seawater roared and receded rapidly, exposing the seabed before returning like a tsunami.
Due to landslides blocking the way home, he decided to spend the night in his car on higher ground.
The next day, he was reunited with his family, but it was not safe to live in his house. They moved to an evacuation shelter and he began helping others in his community.
Shoji encouraged others to stay in the city after the earthquake.
But after the September floods, he questioned whether it had been the right decision.
“That's what worries me the most: When people are lost, the community is devastated,” he said.
Shoji still believes that the Wajima-nuri tradition, a source of local pride, can restore energy to his hometown in times of extreme distress.
He is trying new methods, inspired by centuries-old tradition, to bring lacquerware into the modern era.
“Our future is uncertain. But I want to do something to move things forward,” he said.
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