[On Shizendo Gallery vol 1. Wakasa-nuri Chopsticks] 2. Craftsman Visit

We had the fortunate opportunity to visit Masahiro Furui, the last Wakasa-nuri craftsman.

A small townhouse in a residential area of the Wakasa region is his workshop.

He has worked with chopsticks for 65 years- 30 years as an apprentice, 35 years as an independent craftsman, and many more to count!

He speaks “I feel calm when with chopsticks.” -Chopstick making is his lifework.

His workshop was neat and tidy. There is a muro along the wall, a box to harden the urushi in humidity. Sitting on the floor in front of the simple desk in the centre of the room, he rhythmically coats chopsticks and lines them up. The space was filled with a pleasant sense of tension that straightened our spines. 

Like many other traditional crafts, chopstick making was made in the division of labour. There were different craftspeople for each process. Furui originally specialised in coating chopsticks with urushi lacquer, however, as other craftspeople closed their businesses, he started carving, forming patterns, and polishing (some parts). He works with two other polishing craftspeople. He concerns, “Polishing is vital in Wakasa-nuri. Once one of these two polishers stops working, that will be the end of the industry.”

It takes around three months to hand-craft a set of Wakasa-nuri chopsticks.

“In the beginning, coating the surface with urushi evenly was very challenging, but now I just rely on my sense. It does not mean I’m slacked, though. I never compromise. I finish only when I am satisfied.”

Furui’s chopsticks have distinctively thin edges. He carefully carves the wood by himself. Not only the experience and techniques he has accumulated over the decades, but his tireless passion to make the best chopsticks are what make his chopsticks special.

We are excited for you to actually touch and feel the gentle and warm texture of urushi lacquer.

Katame procedure to firmly fix the eggshells.

Wakasa-nuri today

The division of work among the craftspeople in the peak period enabled the efficient mass production of the hand-crafted Wakasa-nuri chopsticks. However, today, with scarce craftspeople, most Wakasa-nuri chopsticks are made industrially at corporate factories. There are few of them all made by hand.

Furui talks

“The hands of craftspeople turn random natural materials into something that harbours the beauty of our region, Wakasa.

I will be delighted to know if the chopsticks I made create a grace, a beautiful song, or a small comfort in your everyday life and your heart.”

[On Shizendo Gallery vol 1. Wakasa-nuri Chopsticks] 1. About Wakasa-nuri