"Maeda Blue" is produced through the following process.
Primer
Two coats of primer are applied to the wood using a brush and spatula.
After drying in a room with controlled temperature and humidity for two days, sand the surface with sandpaper or a whetstone to remove unevenness and flatten the surface.
Middle Coating
The lacquer is applied with a lacquer brush and allowed to dry slowly in a room with controlled temperature and humidity.
Meddle sharpening
Surface irregularities are carefully polished with waterproof paper and SURUGA TAN charcoal to flatten the surface.
Top coat (inside)
Red lacquer is applied and slowly dried in a temperature- and humidity-controlled room.
Middle coat (outside)
Two coats of blue lacquer are applied and allowed to dry slowly in a temperature- and humidity-controlled room.
Middle sharpening
Surface irregularities are carefully polished and flattened with water-resistant paper and SURUGA TAN charcoal.
Coating
Transparent lacquer is applied and allowed to dry slowly in a room with controlled temperature and humidity.
Ro-iro
This is the final step in giving the lacquer a luster. The lacquer is polished flat with waterproof paper, Suruga Tan charcoal, etc. to remove dust and other debris.
After that, a thin layer of Japanese Kamizuri urushi lacquer is rubbed into the lacquer, which is then dried slowly in a room with controlled temperature and humidity, and the lacquer is removed from the surface using polishing powder.
This process is repeated three times before completion.
This is how “Maeda Blue” is born.