Key Points
- Wajima City in Ishikawa Prefecture continues to struggle with the aftermath of a major earthquake and subsequent heavy rains.
- Local artisans of Wajima-nuri (lacquerware) are working to resume their craft despite significant damage to their workshops and equipment.
- While many facilities were destroyed, some artisans credit modern structural reinforcements for saving their lives and preserving traditional tools.
- Community leaders and craftsmen emphasize that public awareness and “not being forgotten” are crucial for the long-term survival of this traditional industry.
Full Transcript (English)
Okagaki Yugo: Looking at this photo, I really felt then that furniture is something that can actually fly around during a disaster.
Artisan: When you are mixing the lacquer, you have to add it little by little. That is how I was taught to do it.
Artisan: To prevent unevenness, you have to manage the angle and the pressure of the spatula. If you aren’t used to the technique, it shows immediately in the finish.
Artisan: This is where I used to do the polishing. Right here. I would sit in this chair, right at this board. When I first started doing this, the equipment would move like this.
Artisan: If it hadn’t been for this steel frame, this whole place would have… well, thanks to it, I’m still here and the products were protected. Otherwise, everything would have been ruined.
Okagaki Yugo: More than anything, I don’t want people to forget what has happened here. That is my strongest feeling about all of this.
