Production Process

1. Wooden base
Sturdy trees domestic to Japan, such as zelkova, Japanese horse-chestnut, cherry, or chestnut, are cut into round slices and made
into wooden bases of various shapes, both large and small. A technique called tatekidori where wood bases have longitudinal cuts made in them is used. This gives the advantage of less warping and malformation, when compared with cutting across the grain to make the base. After the wood has been cut following a pattern, it is dried and shaved with a Japanese hand plane or knife while being turned.

The wood specialists prefer using their own hand-forged tools, demonstrating a high level of skill to decorate the products with delicate designs. There are fifty variations of kashokubiki or surface decoration designs. These designs are unique to Yamanaka lacquerware, and in addition to beautifying the product, they have a practical value because slipping is prevented when holding.

2. Undercoating
First, the wood is soaked in raw lacquer which allows the lacquer to sink into the grain to prevent warping of the wooden base. Next, lacquer putty is applied which fills cracks and holes in the wooden base. Then linen is pasted onto the foot and rim of the piece as reinforcement. Undercoating is applied multiple times to increase the strength and smooth the surface. The undercoating is a mixture of noriurushi (adhesive made from rice and natural tree lacquer) and jinoko (powdered diatomaceous soil), applied with a wooden spatula. Then the piece is polished.

Finally, sabiji, (rust colored lacquer) is thickened with polishing powder and applied over the whole piece with a wooden spatula.After it dries, the piece is polished to make it smooth and glossy.

3. Uwanuri (top-coating)
After the job of undercoating, a lacquer specialist begins the process of coating with black, vermillion, or other lacquers, using a brush. This is an important process that brings out the deep distinctive hue of the lacquer. The work of the lacquer specialist includes base coating, undercoating, and top coating, repeating the sequence of coating and polishing the lacquer over and over again.

Since moisture is required for painted lacquer to harden, this work is influenced by the daily weather so careful consideration is required.
Intense concentration is needed so as not to let any powder or dust in the air stick to the lacquer. The production for daily use lacquerware is done after this step.

4. Maki-e
After the top coating, pictures or patterns are applied. Togidashi maki-e is a maki-e
technique in which a coating of lacquer is applied after the powder is sprinkled on and then the picture is polished with charcoal until the gold or silver is revealed. Another technique is takamaki-e or raised maki-e which builds up the picture in high relief against the background. This technique is said to have been cultivated by the nobility.

There are other methods of decorating such as chinkin, in which a design of gold lines is applied using gold leaf, and raden, when thin shell flakes cut to fit in the design are applied.