Golden Amber Plum Blossom Side Plate

Made in Hida Takayama, this side plate is shaped like a plum blossom, a nod to the arrival of spring. The hinoki cypress wood is dyed with a yellow tint, followed by an undercoat and multiple coats of translucent suki-urushi that deepen the color beneath it, giving the piece a warm, honey-gold cast while letting the wood grain show clearly through the finish. 

This soft golden tone complements the delicate colors and forms of wagashi confections.

Each plate is handmade, so the grain and lacquer tone vary slightly from piece to piece. The lacquer becomes lighter and more transparent over time, allowing the wood grain to come through more clearly with use.

Fukuju Shikkiten

Founded in 1858, Fukuju Shikkiten is one of the longest-established makers of Hida Shunkei lacquerware in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture.

The craft was born in a region of abundant forests. While most lacquerware is finished in black or vermilion, Hida Shunkei uses clear lacquer to reveal the natural wood grain. The way each artisan applies the lacquer gives it a subtly different tone, making every piece unique. With use, each piece develops a deeper luster and settles naturally into the hand, becoming part of everyday life over the years.

Hida Shunkei Lacquerware

Hida Shunkei is a lacquerware craft from Takayama and the surrounding Hida region of Gifu Prefecture, an area long known for its woodworking tradition. For more than 400 years, artisans have coated dyed woods such as hinoki and sawara cypress as well as Japanese horse chestnut with clear lacquer, allowing the natural grain to remain visible through its deep, translucent luster.

The longer a piece is used, the brighter and more lustrous the lacquer becomes, emphasizing the beauty of the wood even further. Hida Shunkei was designated a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government in 1975 and continues to evolve while preserving the techniques passed down through generations.