In central Japan, a nail technician and a lacquer craftsman are merging their skills to create unique nail art that incorporates a traditional wood lacquerware technique. Hida-shunkei lacquerware, developed 400 years ago in the Hida mountains near Takayama in Gifu prefecture, is at risk of fading away due to a lack of successors.
Naoko Sato, a 48-year-old nail designer from Takayama, devised the innovative idea of using the lacquerware technique in nail art. To bring her vision to life, she collaborated with Toshihiko Kawahara, a 63-year-old Hida-shunkei lacquerware painter. Despite managing her salon, Sato dedicates her time to chiseling nails, which takes around three months to complete a set. The nails, made from local cypress wood, are 9 cm long and 3-5 mm thick, adorned with the elegant Shunkei lacquer.
In April, the pair showcased their creation at a fashion show in Takayama. Models donned kimonos and other dresses, flaunting the glossy, intricately decorated nails on the runway. Ayumi Ishigaki, a local, expressed her admiration, emphasizing the importance of promoting Hida’s traditional craft.
Hida-shunkei lacquerware is known for its glossy caramel-brown finish that enhances with use, revealing the rich wood grains beneath. The craft involves both woodworkers and lacquerware painters, but its decline has left only eight active painters, with Kawahara being the youngest.
Sato, who typically uses synthetic resins for nail extensions, sought to learn the wooden nail art technique from Kawahara. Upon discovering that he had no one to continue his business, she hoped her nail art could spark interest among young people. Kawahara, initially surprised by the idea, agreed to collaborate and modified his painting process to highlight the lacquer’s lustre.
The unique nail art gained international attention when Sato presented it at a show in New York, leaving fashion industry insiders amazed by the wooden nails. She continues to promote Hida-shunkei nails for weddings and other special events globally.
Sato aims to preserve and celebrate the beauty of Hida-shunkei lacquerware through her nail art, ensuring that this traditional craft endures.
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