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
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.
A pair of fountain pens inspired by “Dragon and Tiger,” a folding screen painting by Hashimoto Gahō, a Japanese painter of the Meiji era.
November 7, 2025 at 11:46 PM
A pair of fountain pens inspired by “Dragon and Tiger,” a folding screen painting by Hashimoto Gahō, a Japanese painter of the Meiji era.
2023 Urushi Production in Japan (by Prefecture)
Source: Forestry Agency, Government of Japan
Chart created by: Matsuzawa
Source: Forestry Agency, Government of Japan
Chart created by: Matsuzawa
November 7, 2025 at 2:17 PM
2023 Urushi Production in Japan (by Prefecture)
Source: Forestry Agency, Government of Japan
Chart created by: Matsuzawa
Source: Forestry Agency, Government of Japan
Chart created by: Matsuzawa
I dug up the urushi saplings🌱 in preparation for the planting the day after tomorrow.
While I was working, I felt someone’s gaze, and when I turned around, there was a mother and baby serow watching me.
I’m so glad it wasn’t a bear!🐻
While I was working, I felt someone’s gaze, and when I turned around, there was a mother and baby serow watching me.
I’m so glad it wasn’t a bear!🐻
November 7, 2025 at 6:42 AM
I dug up the urushi saplings🌱 in preparation for the planting the day after tomorrow.
While I was working, I felt someone’s gaze, and when I turned around, there was a mother and baby serow watching me.
I’m so glad it wasn’t a bear!🐻
While I was working, I felt someone’s gaze, and when I turned around, there was a mother and baby serow watching me.
I’m so glad it wasn’t a bear!🐻
Today I went on a 400-kilometer business trip to Hirosaki City in Aomori Prefecture, which is known as a production center for Tsugaru-nuri urushi lacquerware.
Along the way, Mt. Iwate and Mt. Iwaki looked stunning. The whole northeastern Tōhoku region is now in the height of its autumn colors.
Along the way, Mt. Iwate and Mt. Iwaki looked stunning. The whole northeastern Tōhoku region is now in the height of its autumn colors.
November 6, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Today I went on a 400-kilometer business trip to Hirosaki City in Aomori Prefecture, which is known as a production center for Tsugaru-nuri urushi lacquerware.
Along the way, Mt. Iwate and Mt. Iwaki looked stunning. The whole northeastern Tōhoku region is now in the height of its autumn colors.
Along the way, Mt. Iwate and Mt. Iwaki looked stunning. The whole northeastern Tōhoku region is now in the height of its autumn colors.
Hairdressing scissors inspired by the Japanese sword.
A collaboration with the scissor manufacturer Joewell.
#scissors #matsuzawa #joewell
A collaboration with the scissor manufacturer Joewell.
#scissors #matsuzawa #joewell
November 5, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Hairdressing scissors inspired by the Japanese sword.
A collaboration with the scissor manufacturer Joewell.
#scissors #matsuzawa #joewell
A collaboration with the scissor manufacturer Joewell.
#scissors #matsuzawa #joewell
The King of Pen, Maki-E, Ukiyo-e 'Tominomori Sukeemon-Masakata'
en.sailor.co.jp/product/10-8...
A woodblock print by the Edo-period ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi depicting one of the loyal retainers from Chūshingura has been faithfully recreated in urushi maki-e.
en.sailor.co.jp/product/10-8...
A woodblock print by the Edo-period ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi depicting one of the loyal retainers from Chūshingura has been faithfully recreated in urushi maki-e.
November 5, 2025 at 12:45 AM
The King of Pen, Maki-E, Ukiyo-e 'Tominomori Sukeemon-Masakata'
en.sailor.co.jp/product/10-8...
A woodblock print by the Edo-period ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi depicting one of the loyal retainers from Chūshingura has been faithfully recreated in urushi maki-e.
en.sailor.co.jp/product/10-8...
A woodblock print by the Edo-period ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi depicting one of the loyal retainers from Chūshingura has been faithfully recreated in urushi maki-e.
The urushi saplings have turned beautifully red and yellow.
November 1, 2025 at 12:40 AM
The urushi saplings have turned beautifully red and yellow.