{"id":1248,"date":"2025-09-02T12:03:46","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T16:03:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/living.okinawa.halekulani.com\/?p=1248"},"modified":"2025-09-02T12:17:04","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T16:17:04","slug":"%e4%bc%9d%e7%b5%b1%e3%82%92%e9%87%8d%e3%81%ad%e3%81%a6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/living.okinawa.halekulani.com\/en\/%e4%bc%9d%e7%b5%b1%e3%82%92%e9%87%8d%e3%81%ad%e3%81%a6\/","title":{"rendered":"A Layered Legacy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Go Kadena, the sixth-generation head of Kakuman Shikki, lifts a large, unfinished piece of lacquerware off a shelf with both hands and gives it a gentle shake. Though it\u2019s composed of a separate lid and body, the two parts fit together so precisely that they don\u2019t shift or make a sound. \u201cIt has very minimal warping, so it doesn\u2019t wobble or rattle,\u201d he says. The piece is still a work in progress, but its meticulous construction is already a testament to the craftsmanship that his family\u2019s lacquerware business has upheld throughout its more than 120-year history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the far end of the workshop, a cache of wood awaits transformation into Kakuman Shikki\u2019s esteemed lacquerware. Logs of shitamagi, a dense Okinawan hardwood used to make bowls, cups, and other small items, stand upright against the wall. Stacked to the ceiling on metal shelves above them are thick cross-sections of deigo, the prefectural tree of Okinawa. This lightweight wood, prized for its stability and resistance to warping, is ideal for crafting large pieces of lacquerware like the one in Go\u2019s hands.\nIn the room next door, a young artisan is applying shitaji (base coating) to the bare wooden surface of a cup. From there, it will receive seven to nine layers of lacquer before it is decorated and polished to a lustrous sheen. \u201cThe more layers it has, the sturdier it becomes,\u201d Go says, adding that areas most prone to wear are also reinforced with fabric and paper. With equal care devoted to form and function, these are objects meant to be used, not just admired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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