Traditional "Nanako-nuri" Japanese Lacquered finish 4-piece Specially Go set

"Nanako-nuri" of the traditional craft of Tsugaru-nuri is a traditional lacquer technique that has been passed down in Aomori Prefecture for over 300 years.
After applying lacquer several dozens of times, a polishing finish is applied to create a profound and artistic pattern.

Tsugaru-nuri has four typical techniques (Kara-nuri, Nanako-nuri, Nishiki-nuri, and Monsha-nuri), and "Nanako-nuri" is one of these techniques.

The biggest feature of "Nanako-nuri" is to scatter rape blossom seeds to form a mesmerizing pattern. The words Nanako, Uoko, Nishiko, and Shinko are used to describe the patterns because the collection of small ring shapes produced by the rape blossoms is reminiscent of fish eggs or nanako as they are known in Japanese.

Technically speaking, it is a traditional technique of polishing and coating called "Kyuushitsu", and lacquer is applied 20 to 30 times before giving the work a polishing finish.

This technique is not a method of drawing a pattern on top of the coat but is instead characterized by the depth of the pattern that emerges from the base coat, as well as the delicate yet intense pattern caused by the pattern of the base coat emerging through repeatedly applying lacquer and polishing the surface.

The process is a technique that requires a great deal of time and effort, with 19 base coats, 27 Nanako coats, and a topcoat (finishing coat).
* For more information on each process, please refer to [ About the "Nanako-nuri" Process ].

The Nanako lacquer of the Go bowls and Go board gives birth to a deep green Nanako pattern from its gorgeous jet black shade.

Its glossy surface and smooth texture never cease to enchant those who gaze their eyes on its beauty. The inside of the Go bowls are bright vermilion, and this color contrast with the "Nanako-nuri" on the exterior makes it an exquisite piece.
Given that the lacquer is applied 20 to 30 times, this adds to the sense of weight one feels when holding this precious piece.

Base coats
1. Sanding the wooden base: The surface of the wood is sanded with sandpaper.
2. Hardening the wooden base: The base coat lacquer is rubbed into the wood.
3. Kokuso carving: Indicator lines are carved using a sword.
4. Kokuso - 1st time: Kokuso lacquer is applied.
5. Kokuso - 2nd time: Kokuso lacquer is applied again.
6. Kokuso-hadake: The work is sanded smooth with a kokuso plane and a rough grindstone.
7. Wrapping in cloth: Cloth is cut for dressing the work in cloth.
8. Cloth dressing: The cloth is pasted with nori-urushi, a mixture of urushi and rice paste.
9. Cloth removal: Excess cloth is removed.
10. Kukuri base lining: The base lacquer is applied.
11. Kukuri base sanding: The work is sanded smooth with a rough grindstone.
12. Base lining: The base lacquer is applied.
13. Base sanding: The work is sanded smooth with a rough grindstone.
14. Applying of kirikoji mixture: A kirikoji mixture made up of a polishing powder (fine powder made by straining clay) a ground powder (a powder made by baking and crushing soil), and raw lacquer is applied.
15. Polishing of kirikoji coat: The work is sanded with a fine rough grindstone.
16. Sabizuke: A rust-like lacquer made up of polishing powder and raw lacquer is applied.
17. Kokisabi: The work is sanded smooth with a fine Kongo whetstone and before the rust-like lacquer is applied.
18. Sabitogi: The work is sanded with a red whetstone and Nagura whetstone.
19. Primer surface coating: A primer surface coat of lacquer is applied to areas that are not patterned (the back and rear surface etc. of a lacquered jubako box).

Nanako-nuri
1. Primer surface: A primer surface coat of lacquer is applied to the sabitogi surfaces.
2. Sanding of the primer surface: The primer surface is sanded with a whetstone.
3. Tane-urushi coating:Tane-urushi (seed lacquer) is applied evenly.
4. Tane-maki (scattering of seeds): Rape blossom seeds are scattered on the coated surface.
5. Tane-hagi (seed peeling): The fruit of the rape blossom is peeled with a spatula.
6. Seed husk removal: The husk of the fruit that has failed to peel off is removed.
7. Tane-togi: The seeds on the coated surface are sanded with a whetstone.
8. Age-nuri: A colored lacquer, which acts as the base color, is applied.
9. Ara-togi: Ring patterns are produced by sanding with a finer whetstone than the tane-togi stage.
10. Shigoki-nuri - 1st time: The lacquer used in the age-nuri stage is applied so that it can be applied with a spatula.
11. Shigoki-togi: The work is sanded flat with a whetstone.
12. Shigoki-nuri - 2nd time: The work is sanded flat with a fine whetstone or water-resistant sandpaper (#800 to #1,000).
13. Chu-togi (mid-level sanding): The work is sanded flat with a whetstone
14. Shigoki-nuri - 3rd time: The lacquer used in the age-nuri stage is applied so that it can be applied with a spatula.
15. Shiage-togi (finish polishing): The work is sanded flat with a fine whetstone or water-resistant sandpaper (#800 to #1,000).
16. Charcoal sanding base: The surface of the work is hardened by applying suri-urushi (a very fine lacquer coating).
17. Sumi-hagi: Charcoal and water-resistant paper (#1,200 to #1,500) are used to sand the surface flat.
18. Senbenshita - Done 2 to 3 times: Suri-urushi is applied until no more lacquer can be absorbed by the surface.
19. Senben-koguri: This stage is also known as dozuri in which fine scratches are removed from the body of the work with oil and polishing powder.
20. Suri-urushi: Raw lacquer is rubbed into the surface of the work and wiped off.
21. Kasane-suri: The surface is wiped clean with washi (Japanese paper).
22. Glossing - 1st time: The work is polished with a glossing powder (titanium powder) or compound.
23. Suri-urushi: Raw lacquer is rubbed into the surface of the work and wiped off.
24. Glossing - 2nd time: The surface is wiped clean with washi paper or gauze.
25. Suri-urushi: Raw lacquer is rubbed into the surface of the work and wiped off.
26. Finish glossing: The work is polished with a glossing powder (titanium powder) or compound.
27. The Nanako-nuri process is now finished.

Table Go board
This is a specially made shin-kaya table Go board that has been given a traditional "Nanako-nuri" style "Tsugaru-nuri" finish.
Its thickness is about 60 mm.

Go bowls
This is a specially made Go bowls that has been given a traditional "Nanako-nuri" style "Tsugaru-nuri" finish.
Sakura [Cherry] wood has been used for the wooden base.
Bags for Go Bowl made of Nishijin included.

Go stones
Clamshell Go stones Premium Snow grade Size 38 thick stones are in great presence and premium feel; Size 38 stones (10.7 mm thick).
With this thickness and quality, the Snow grade Go stones are very rare that can be made only 1 set in few 1,000 set.
Snow Grade (YU-KI)／Very close stripe patterns beautifully cover at least 80% of the overall surface, which is a very unique characteristic of the clamshell.

1,000 JPY flat rate shipping within Japan, free shipping for purchases totaling 20,000 JPY or more.
Please bear the actual cost for shipping charges outside Japan.

You may find small knots, burrs, rolled-in bark as all these products are made of natural trees.
There may be some small flaw or scratch, dent, chipping.