Takuo Matsuzawa
@matsuzawa.bsky.social
Urushi Art Producer 🇯🇵
Urushi Art
Kintsugi
Urushi Fountain Pen 🖊
Feel free to contact us via chat😀
Matsuzawa Urushi Workshop in Morioka IWATE
https://matsuzawaurushi.stores.jp/
All my English posts are translated by ChatGPT
Urushi Art
Kintsugi
Urushi Fountain Pen 🖊
Feel free to contact us via chat😀
Matsuzawa Urushi Workshop in Morioka IWATE
https://matsuzawaurushi.stores.jp/
All my English posts are translated by ChatGPT
Today, December 14th, marks the anniversary of the Chushingura raid—the day the 47 Ronin avenged their lord.
My studio is currently producing a special series of fountain pens dedicated to this legendary event.
My studio is currently producing a special series of fountain pens dedicated to this legendary event.
December 14, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Today, December 14th, marks the anniversary of the Chushingura raid—the day the 47 Ronin avenged their lord.
My studio is currently producing a special series of fountain pens dedicated to this legendary event.
My studio is currently producing a special series of fountain pens dedicated to this legendary event.
Many Japanese urushi artists view urushi merely as a type of paint. The vast majority have never even witnessed the harvesting process.
For me, however, having the trees close at hand, my primary perspective is that urushi is a precious sap.
For me, however, having the trees close at hand, my primary perspective is that urushi is a precious sap.
December 13, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Many Japanese urushi artists view urushi merely as a type of paint. The vast majority have never even witnessed the harvesting process.
For me, however, having the trees close at hand, my primary perspective is that urushi is a precious sap.
For me, however, having the trees close at hand, my primary perspective is that urushi is a precious sap.
When urushi trees that have finished being tapped are cut down and stacked up, the logs are called "kakigara".
When I see a whole pile of kakigara logs, I can’t help wanting to say, “Thank you for all your hard work.”
When I see a whole pile of kakigara logs, I can’t help wanting to say, “Thank you for all your hard work.”
December 11, 2025 at 1:26 PM
When urushi trees that have finished being tapped are cut down and stacked up, the logs are called "kakigara".
When I see a whole pile of kakigara logs, I can’t help wanting to say, “Thank you for all your hard work.”
When I see a whole pile of kakigara logs, I can’t help wanting to say, “Thank you for all your hard work.”
このたびの地震で食器が割れてしまったという方から相談が来ています。大事な器、思い出のある器がありましたら金継ぎで修理できますのでお気軽にご相談ください。
私の家の食器類は無事でしたが、積んでいた本が崩れて大事な本に折り目がついてしまった…
matsuzawakobo.com/contact/
私の家の食器類は無事でしたが、積んでいた本が崩れて大事な本に折り目がついてしまった…
matsuzawakobo.com/contact/
December 9, 2025 at 2:34 AM
このたびの地震で食器が割れてしまったという方から相談が来ています。大事な器、思い出のある器がありましたら金継ぎで修理できますのでお気軽にご相談ください。
私の家の食器類は無事でしたが、積んでいた本が崩れて大事な本に折り目がついてしまった…
matsuzawakobo.com/contact/
私の家の食器類は無事でしたが、積んでいた本が崩れて大事な本に折り目がついてしまった…
matsuzawakobo.com/contact/
A tsunami warning has been issued for the Hokkaido, Iwate and Aomori coasts!
December 8, 2025 at 2:27 PM
A tsunami warning has been issued for the Hokkaido, Iwate and Aomori coasts!
At the Tokyo exhibition, the antique Royal Copenhagen small plates repaired with kintsugi were very popular.
December 8, 2025 at 6:09 AM
At the Tokyo exhibition, the antique Royal Copenhagen small plates repaired with kintsugi were very popular.
The donut-shaped object to the left is a trivet.
December 7, 2025 at 1:56 AM
The donut-shaped object to the left is a trivet.
This is a bottle holder woven from igusa, the same material used for tatami mats. It was crafted by a fellow artisan exhibiting here. It’s simple and truly lovely.
This is the essence of "Mingei".
This is the essence of "Mingei".
December 7, 2025 at 1:48 AM
This is a bottle holder woven from igusa, the same material used for tatami mats. It was crafted by a fellow artisan exhibiting here. It’s simple and truly lovely.
This is the essence of "Mingei".
This is the essence of "Mingei".
I came to Tokyo for the first time in three years. There’s currently an exhibition of traditional crafts at Tokyo Midtown Yaesu near Tokyo Station, where one of my workshop’s maki-e steering wheels is on display. It’s an outdoor exhibit, so it’s freezing out here!
#matsuzawa #urushi
#matsuzawa #urushi
December 6, 2025 at 1:52 AM
I came to Tokyo for the first time in three years. There’s currently an exhibition of traditional crafts at Tokyo Midtown Yaesu near Tokyo Station, where one of my workshop’s maki-e steering wheels is on display. It’s an outdoor exhibit, so it’s freezing out here!
#matsuzawa #urushi
#matsuzawa #urushi
Many Japanese craftspeople feel that repairs where the pieces are joined with urushi should be called kintsugi. When modern chemical adhesives are used too casually, we hesitate to use the same name, because the spirit and technique of the craft are quite different.
December 3, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Many Japanese craftspeople feel that repairs where the pieces are joined with urushi should be called kintsugi. When modern chemical adhesives are used too casually, we hesitate to use the same name, because the spirit and technique of the craft are quite different.
Chūshingura is a very well-known incident from the Edo period in Japan, and in later generations it has been adapted into many plays and films. I am also interested in this story, and I have created fountain pens using it as a motif, which are being sold by Sailor.
December 3, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Chūshingura is a very well-known incident from the Edo period in Japan, and in later generations it has been adapted into many plays and films. I am also interested in this story, and I have created fountain pens using it as a motif, which are being sold by Sailor.
These products support abalone farmers in Ofunato City affected by Japan's largest-scale forest fire, with a portion of sales being donated. They are cute and delicate accessories that capture tiny abalone shells in glass. #abalone
matsuzawaurushi.stores.jp
matsuzawaurushi.stores.jp
December 1, 2025 at 6:03 AM
These products support abalone farmers in Ofunato City affected by Japan's largest-scale forest fire, with a portion of sales being donated. They are cute and delicate accessories that capture tiny abalone shells in glass. #abalone
matsuzawaurushi.stores.jp
matsuzawaurushi.stores.jp
My neighbors told me they were worried about bears🐻 showing up, so I picked all the persimmons I hadn’t gotten to yet. I’ll turn some of them into dried persimmons.
A friend helped me out, so everything went really smoothly.
A friend helped me out, so everything went really smoothly.
November 29, 2025 at 3:47 AM
My neighbors told me they were worried about bears🐻 showing up, so I picked all the persimmons I hadn’t gotten to yet. I’ll turn some of them into dried persimmons.
A friend helped me out, so everything went really smoothly.
A friend helped me out, so everything went really smoothly.
November 25, 2025 at 5:53 AM
A new book collecting interviews with the musicians involved in this legendary album was recently published.
Although Ohtaki sadly passed away in 2013, the book clearly shows how remarkable he truly was.
Ohtaki was from Ōshū City—the same hometown as Shohei Ohtani.
Although Ohtaki sadly passed away in 2013, the book clearly shows how remarkable he truly was.
Ohtaki was from Ōshū City—the same hometown as Shohei Ohtani.
November 23, 2025 at 2:35 AM
A new book collecting interviews with the musicians involved in this legendary album was recently published.
Although Ohtaki sadly passed away in 2013, the book clearly shows how remarkable he truly was.
Ohtaki was from Ōshū City—the same hometown as Shohei Ohtani.
Although Ohtaki sadly passed away in 2013, the book clearly shows how remarkable he truly was.
Ohtaki was from Ōshū City—the same hometown as Shohei Ohtani.
Eiichi Ohtaki’s A Long Vacation (1981) is one of the most beloved albums in Japanese pop music.
Ohtaki, born in Iwate Prefecture, blended American pop influences with a uniquely Japanese melodic sensibility.
Ohtaki, born in Iwate Prefecture, blended American pop influences with a uniquely Japanese melodic sensibility.
November 23, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Eiichi Ohtaki’s A Long Vacation (1981) is one of the most beloved albums in Japanese pop music.
Ohtaki, born in Iwate Prefecture, blended American pop influences with a uniquely Japanese melodic sensibility.
Ohtaki, born in Iwate Prefecture, blended American pop influences with a uniquely Japanese melodic sensibility.
I had a wonderful evening in Sendai yesterday with my friends. We enjoyed dinner while listening to nostalgic music records from Japan and abroad.
November 21, 2025 at 12:46 AM
I had a wonderful evening in Sendai yesterday with my friends. We enjoyed dinner while listening to nostalgic music records from Japan and abroad.
The local high school students sold financiers and cookies made with urushi tea as part of their class project. They sold out in just one hour!
November 16, 2025 at 6:13 AM
The local high school students sold financiers and cookies made with urushi tea as part of their class project. They sold out in just one hour!
I’m currently exhibiting my urushi lacquered steering wheel at the ongoing show at Tokyo Midtown Yaesu, and a man who saw it shared a wonderful comment about it on X.
x.com/ihdyk/status...
x.com/ihdyk/status...
November 15, 2025 at 1:54 AM
I’m currently exhibiting my urushi lacquered steering wheel at the ongoing show at Tokyo Midtown Yaesu, and a man who saw it shared a wonderful comment about it on X.
x.com/ihdyk/status...
x.com/ihdyk/status...
“MIDTOWN YAESU CHRISTMAS 2025” is now underway at Tokyo Midtown Yaesu until December 25.
The exhibition brings together exquisite craftworks created by artists and artisans from all over Japan.
I am also exhibiting an urushi lacquered steering wheel🚗—please stop by and take a look! ☺️
The exhibition brings together exquisite craftworks created by artists and artisans from all over Japan.
I am also exhibiting an urushi lacquered steering wheel🚗—please stop by and take a look! ☺️
November 14, 2025 at 11:04 AM
“MIDTOWN YAESU CHRISTMAS 2025” is now underway at Tokyo Midtown Yaesu until December 25.
The exhibition brings together exquisite craftworks created by artists and artisans from all over Japan.
I am also exhibiting an urushi lacquered steering wheel🚗—please stop by and take a look! ☺️
The exhibition brings together exquisite craftworks created by artists and artisans from all over Japan.
I am also exhibiting an urushi lacquered steering wheel🚗—please stop by and take a look! ☺️
I harvested some persimmons. I’m going to peel them and dry them to make hoshigaki.
They develop an incredibly rich sweetness.
They develop an incredibly rich sweetness.
November 14, 2025 at 4:11 AM
I harvested some persimmons. I’m going to peel them and dry them to make hoshigaki.
They develop an incredibly rich sweetness.
They develop an incredibly rich sweetness.
5 years ago, we created a red card made entirely with urushi.
A real chip was embedded as well, but the project never took off due to lack of demand. 😅
Instead of applying urushi onto plastic, the card was built using the kanshitsu technique—urushi mixed with hemp cloth.
A real chip was embedded as well, but the project never took off due to lack of demand. 😅
Instead of applying urushi onto plastic, the card was built using the kanshitsu technique—urushi mixed with hemp cloth.
November 13, 2025 at 1:28 PM
5 years ago, we created a red card made entirely with urushi.
A real chip was embedded as well, but the project never took off due to lack of demand. 😅
Instead of applying urushi onto plastic, the card was built using the kanshitsu technique—urushi mixed with hemp cloth.
A real chip was embedded as well, but the project never took off due to lack of demand. 😅
Instead of applying urushi onto plastic, the card was built using the kanshitsu technique—urushi mixed with hemp cloth.
Matsuo Bashō’s haiku, “If you speak, your lips grow cold in the autumn wind,” captures the feeling of regret or loneliness that follows when we say something too directly.
A moment of honesty can feel as cold and sharp as the autumn air.
A moment of honesty can feel as cold and sharp as the autumn air.
November 13, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Matsuo Bashō’s haiku, “If you speak, your lips grow cold in the autumn wind,” captures the feeling of regret or loneliness that follows when we say something too directly.
A moment of honesty can feel as cold and sharp as the autumn air.
A moment of honesty can feel as cold and sharp as the autumn air.
November 13 is “Urushi Day.” It is a commemorative day based on a legend from the Heian period, in which Prince Koretaka was taught the method of making urushi. According to this tradition, on November 13 the prince was in retreat at Hōrin-ji Temple in Arashiyama, Kyoto,
November 13, 2025 at 1:02 AM
November 13 is “Urushi Day.” It is a commemorative day based on a legend from the Heian period, in which Prince Koretaka was taught the method of making urushi. According to this tradition, on November 13 the prince was in retreat at Hōrin-ji Temple in Arashiyama, Kyoto,
The trees in Morioka Castle Ruins Park have turned beautifully vivid in color. It’s about the time they begin to shed their leaves.
November 12, 2025 at 12:56 AM
The trees in Morioka Castle Ruins Park have turned beautifully vivid in color. It’s about the time they begin to shed their leaves.