Hirota Urushi - Ishime Tsuishitsu Nuri - Kinma

Important Notice: The hand-making process makes every single pen a unique one, there is no pen exactly resembling one another. The one you will receive might be slightly different from the one here in the pictures.

Hirota Urushi - Ishime Tsuishitsu Nuri - Kinma has a unique pattern that cannot be repeated for each production.

Hirota Urushi

Hirota Urushi is the Japanese traditional Urushi arts hand-crafted by master Hirota Yoko (廣田洋子). Master Hirota's artworks are unique in designs and techniques which are hard to find among common Urushi lacquerwares.

There are 4 main techniques normally used in master Hirota's art:

- 櫛目堆漆塗 (Kushime Tsuishitsu Nuri)

- 金箔 (Kinpaku)

- 石目堆漆塗蒟醤 (Ishime Tsuishitsu Nuri)

- 金彩ひび塗 (Kinsai Hibi Nuri)

Fountain pens from Hirota collection are handmade one by one and require years to create. Therefore, each design is limited to only 1-3 pieces.

About Master Hirota Yoko

With a great interest in traditional handmade crafts since elementary school, master Hirota decided to choose this path and developed a strong passion for Japanese Urushi-making traditions. Master Hirota now has more than 30 years of hands-on experience in making Urushi and Maki-e which focus on the stylish minimalism and durability of the objects. Either it's a pair of chopsticks that serve everyday meals or it's an ornament used in the palace, it must last long and express aesthetics of Japan's art.

Background of master Yoko Hirota:

1988: Graduated from Joshibi University of Art and Design

1991: Completed research course at Kagawa Prefecture Urushi Art Institute; Selected for Japan Traditional Lacquer Art Exhibition

1993: Graduated from Kagawa Prefecture Urushi Art Institute; Fukuoka Art Exhibition First Prize

1994: Fukuoka Art Exhibition Board of Education Award; Selected for Japan Industrial Arts Association Western Art Exhibition

1995: Selected for Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition; Western Crafts Exhibition Urasoe Mayor's Award

1996: Buzen City Cultural Merit Award

1997: Seibu Crafts Exhibition Award of Mayor of Urasoe

1998: Fukuoka Art Exhibition West Japan Newspaper Award

1999: Became a member of Fukuoka Art Association; Certificated as a regular member of Japan Crafts Association

2004: OAB Oita Asahi Broadcasting Award at Western Crafts Exhibition

2005: Oita Mayor's Award at Western Crafts Exhibition

2006: Solo Exhibition at Buddha Museum

2008: Western Traditional Craft Exhibition Asahi Welfare Culture Corporation Award

Specifications

Material & art: Ebonite, Urushi

Filling mechanism: Converter or Cartridge (European International Standard)

Nib: #6 Jowo stainless steel, Wancher 18K gold

Feed: Plastic, ebonite black, ebonite red

Compact air-tight cap: Preven dried-out ink problem

Size & Shape

Packaging

Traditional Japanese Wooden Box + Cartridge & Converter + Instructional Materials