Kagawa Lacquer Ware Lacquer Kagawa Prefecture Cooperative Union Kagawa LacquerWare Association 1595 Kasuga-cho, Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture tel 0878-41-9820 Background Kagawa lacquer ware started at the end of the Edo period (1600-1868), by Tamakaji Zokoku, a famous lacquerer with the development of new techniques that came into being by combining traditional Japanese techniques with skills such as kinma and zonsei which had been brought to Japan from Thailand and China. These locally developed techniques have been handed down over the years and many of these characteristic pieces, which are referred to collectively as Kagawa lacquer ware, are being produced around Takamatsu. It is undoubtedly the country's top lacquer ware producer in terms of variety, producing everything from tables to display shelves to trays, coasters and candy bowls. Five different techniques are used in the making of this distinctive ware, namely kinma, goto-nuri, zonsei, choshitsu and zokoku-nuri. Whichever one is used, the tasteful character and sense of quality only increase with use and the passing of time, and serve to give this ware is distinctive coloring. Somewhat against the general trend, orders are increasing year by year not only from within Kagawa Prefecture itself but from the rest of the country, too. With 27 government recognized Master Craftsmen among the 1,930 people employed by the 224 firms sustaining this craft, it looks set to build on its long traditions.