{"title":"Appi Urushi","description":"\u003cp\u003eAppi Urushi Studio is a lacquerware workshop located along the Appi River in Iwate Prefecture — a region historically known as Urushi Kaido (Lacquer Road) for its deep-rooted lacquer traditions dating back to the Edo period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Appi River valley supported a complete lacquerware ecosystem. Upstream, near the mountains, rokuroshi (woodworkers) crafted wooden utensils from high-quality beech and Japanese horse-chestnut. Downstream, urushikaki collected lacquer sap from June to October each year. In Araya-shinmachi, located midstream, nushi applied this precious lacquer to give the final finish. Because the lacquerware was originally produced in the Araya-shinmachi region — where Appi Urushi Studio is located today — it was historically called Arasawa lacquerware. The town once prospered as a connecting point between Morioka and Odate, Akita.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs post-war lifestyles shifted, demand for lacquerware declined and Arasawa lacquerware disappeared for a time. To revive the craft, the Ashiro Urushi Technical Research Center was founded in 1983 with a focus on apprentice training. Over the past 40 years, the center has trained more than 70 artisans in the Appi Urushi technique, who now work across Japan. In 1999, Appi Urushi Studio emerged as a hub for the artisans still active in the local Iwate region — a center for activities, production, and sales of Appi Urushi.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThough logging is no longer practiced in the nearby mountains, Appi Urushi Studio remains committed to using domestic timber like Japanese cherry birch, horse-chestnut, and zelkova, producing lacquerware that is durable and resistant to cracks. Light, soft to touch, and capable of moderating temperature, lacquerware has historically been carried by Appi River farming families — for example on small plates called kobiru-zara, used for pickles and rice balls in the fields. Through field research, the studio continues to create lacquerware that is affordable, practical, and integrated into everyday life.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"soup-bowl-s","title":"Soup Bowl S","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe studio researched the sizes of bowls commonly used in local people’s eating or drinking environments and averaged them out to create this charming and petite bowl. With its cute appearance and compact size, this bowl is easy to hold for those with smaller hands, making it a popular choice among women and children. Despite its small size, it holds a surprising amount of food, which makes it a great choice for those just starting their lacquerware collection. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oshinsha","offers":[{"title":"Crimson","offer_id":43372540461231,"sku":"AU-SB-01","price":11700.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"Tamari","offer_id":46993410556079,"sku":"AU-SB-02","price":11700.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0513\/0505\/4383\/files\/2024_02_22_3902.jpg?v=1711095494"},{"product_id":"hime-bowl","title":"Hime Bowl","description":"\u003cp\u003eNamed for its small size, the Hime Bowl is popular due to its easy-to-hold, rounded shape. Made of wood, it keeps hot food or drinks warm without overheating. It also locks in the cold taste of drinks while preventing condensation. It is perfect for summer desserts such as fruit jelly or anmitsu, and equally handy for warming winter treats like sweet sake or sweet red bean soup.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oshinsha","offers":[{"title":"Crimson","offer_id":43372834488495,"sku":"AU-HB-01","price":9500.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"Tamari","offer_id":46993410457775,"sku":"AU-HB-02","price":9500.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0513\/0505\/4383\/files\/2024_02_22_3901.jpg?v=1711099398"},{"product_id":"kobiru-plate","title":"Kobiru Plate","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe design of this plate embraces simplicity. The bold use of black or crimson color without further embellishment accentuates the innate elegance of the lacquer. This dish is perfect for serving sweets or appetizers, making it a handy addition to your daily tableware. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oshinsha","offers":[{"title":"Crimson","offer_id":43378944213167,"sku":"AU-KB-01","price":13100.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"Tamari","offer_id":46993410359471,"sku":"AU-KB-02","price":13100.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0513\/0505\/4383\/files\/2024_02_22_3900.jpg?v=1711350718"},{"product_id":"small-plate","title":"Mame Plate","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe name \"mame plate\" (\u003cem\u003emamezara\u003c\/em\u003e in Japanese) translates literally to \"bean plate,\" referring to its petite size, rather than being a dish specifically for beans. These palm-sized plates are versatile and can serve as pastry dishes or serving plates. On the Japanese dining table, they are traditionally used for serving condiments, pickled vegetables, or small portions of food during meals. \u003cbr\u003eWith their curved rim, they can also be paired with the Hime Bowl as a tea saucer.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oshinsha","offers":[{"title":"Crimson","offer_id":44749563887791,"sku":"AU-SP-01","price":7300.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"Tamari","offer_id":46993407410351,"sku":"AU-SP-02","price":7300.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0513\/0505\/4383\/files\/2024_10_01_5323_689c75f3-8fc0-4b29-880b-372277e0db0b.jpg?v=1734937045"}],"url":"https:\/\/oshinsha.live\/collections\/appi-urushi.oembed","provider":"Oshinsha","version":"1.0","type":"link"}