Picture: This lady owns the shop that sells lacquer-wear. I bought some souvenirs from her.

Traditional Japanese lacquer-ware is the signature of Wajima. They had been making it since 1476. I have seen "lacquer" bowls at the Japanese dollar stores for $1 each and others little more expensive ones at department stores but I don't know anything about them so I never buy them.

Lacquer-ware is made from Urushi, which is a milky-white sap that comes from urushi trees found in Japan, China and Korea. The sap is collected in the same way that rubber is collected from rubber trees. A groove is cut into the cambium layer of the tree so that the liquid sap runs out and is collected in a container. After removing impurities and other refinements, many coats of the liquid are applied to wooden products like bowls, plates, chopsticks, panels and so. After the liquid hardens, the urushi gives it smooth and lustrous shine as well as being resistant to the strongest acids; acids that melt iron, gold, silver and ceramics. In other words, it is extremely durable. It takes 75 to 130 stages of handiwork before the product is ready for decoration. After I read the advertising brochure, I immediately went out and bought two small bowls, which cost a fortune and made me feel guilty for days. This is my justification: Lacquer ware is considered an underlying part of Japanese culture so I wanted to bring some home with me. The bowls are not decorated but incredibly beautiful.