Pine, Bamboo and Plum Soup Bowl

This soup bowl is hollowed out from Japanese horse chestnut, which is the best material for wood bowls. It has a slightly matte texture in calm black color.
The lacquering process, from the base coat to the top coat, has been inspected for designation as a traditional Aizu lacquerware craft.

Aizu-e, the traditional design of Aizu lacquerware, is hand-painted one by one by skilled maki-e artists. The painting of the famous combination of pine tree, bamboo and plum is considered as auspicious motif in Japan, bringing good luck and longevity. Also, there are paintings of ceremonial arrow and spinning wheel, both are considered as a signature motif of Aizu lacquerware. 

Fukunishi-Sobe Shoten

Fukunishi-Sobe Shoten was started by taking over the lacquerware division from the main family, which had been in existence for 13 generations since the early Edo period. They have developed their products over time by figuring out "what must not be changed and what must be changed". In addition to the lacquering technique that makes the most of the moist luster of lacquerware, the company has handed down the unique decorative techniques of Aizu, such as Aizu-e painting with motifs of pine, bamboo, plum, and ceremonial arrow, and the spinning wheel. Fukunishi Sobe's lacquerware flexibly incorporates modern industrial technology, and is a special product that has a high artistic value as well as an aspect of being daily use items with which long-time use gives an additional charm. 

Aizu is located in the southern part of the Tohoku region and is known as a place where nature and history are richly preserved and a unique culture takes root. The Aizu region is a basin surrounded by rich nature and has become a famous lacquerware production area where the entire process from the production of materials, such as cultivating lacquer trees, collecting sap, and cutting nearby trees, to the processing and finishing of lacquerware can be done locally. Aizu lacquerware has continued to grow up to the present day, as it has always proactively adopted the latest technology in addition to the traditional techniques that have survived for over 400 years.