四代目までの歩み二

中門漆器店の新たな販路の挑戦が始まる。
New challenge for Nakakado shikki ten has begun.

In the beginning, other urushi distributors did not show any interest in Hiroshi's design
because it
was the ‘Bubble era’ in Japan and his design was deemed too simple and unlikely to sell well.
However, he persevered knowing his chance would come.

The opportunity came as the ‘Bubble era’ drew to a close. Consumers’ tastes changed
radically and luxurious Wajima nuri products ceased to sell.


Desperate for sales distributors reconsidered Hiroshi’s design and gradually his contemporary style products started selling at trade shows.
Local wholesalers also started selling Hiroshi’s products owing to the reputation he had built.

It was soon realised that his gradation patterns bore a contemporary look and feel. Matching perfectly with our modern lifestyle and could even
mix with European tableware.


始めた時がまだバブルの絶頂期だった為、輪島の業者からは塗だけの商品には見向きもされなかったが、自分を信じて塗りの開発に取組んだ。

その内バブルが崩壊して、高価な輪島塗が売れなくなり業者は当工房の展示に目を向ける様になり展示会に当工房のオリジナル商品を出展した所、価格帯やデザイン　
などが今の生活様式に合う事で販売に繋がった。
輪島の業界でその事が話題になり今まで取引が無かった業者も工房に来て商品を仕入れる様になった。

その頃当工房では、現代の生活様式の変化を一早く感じ取り、和～洋の生活に合う漆器をデザインし和モダンをテーマにグラデーションを売りとして販売に取組んで行った。

Hiroshi’s reputation has resulted in him becoming something of a trendsetter, with other urushi
manufactures drawing inspiration from his ideas.

Hiroshi moved on to developing colorful gradation patterns while making Akebono. Making use
of simultaneous black and red gradation.

Coloured urushi are extremely difficult to mix, the colors change as the urushi dries while
temperature and humidity have a vast impact on the final finish. Therefore only highly skilled
craftsmen are able to create consistent results by carefully taking every condition into account.

When working with a two tone gradation extreme care must be taken to ensure that the conditions are consistent for both colours.

This difficulty allows us to produce a product that is near impossible to replicate allowing us to build a brand around our unique products.

売れている情報が輪島で広まると、他社や大手でも類似品を製作するようになり、器のデザインや赤黒の色までが出てくるようになった。

そうなって来る事も踏まえて、赤黒のグラデーション曙塗りと同時進行で色漆のグラデーションにも取り組んでいた為、今度は色を使っての展開を提案して行くようになる。

色漆は色の調合、乾く時の乾燥の仕方で色が変化しますので大変高度な技術力と経験を伴う、特に全く違う色のグラデーションは漆の乾燥や厚み、漆の濃度など経験
を重ねないとその日その日で湿度や気温により、まるで生き物のように違う顔を見せてきます。

2種類の色を使う場合は、全て同じ様な状態で無いと綺麗なグラデーションが生まれません

そのため経験の無い他社では中々真似が出来ない事で、当工房のブランド力を高めて行く方向に取組む