Red Amber Round Candy Box

Made in Hida Takayama, this small candy box is carved from a single block of hinoki cypress rather than bent or joined, giving it a smooth, seamless form. The wood is dyed with a red tint, followed by an undercoat and multiple coats of translucent suki-urushi that deepen the color beneath it, giving the piece a warm, reddish-amber cast while letting the wood grain show clearly through the finish. 

Sized to sit in the palm of a hand, it suits small wagashi confections, or other bite-sized sweets, and works equally well as a decoration on a shelf. The substantial lid gives the box a solid, grounded feel when lifted off. 

Each piece is handmade, so grain and lacquer tone vary slightly from piece to piece. The lacquer becomes more transparent over time, allowing the 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.