Kamakura-bori
Kamakura-bori (鎌倉彫) is a traditional Japanese lacquerware craft produced in and around the city of Kamakura in Kanagaw Prefecture. It is characterised by deeply carved wooden surfaces coated with multiple layers of lacquer, resulting in bold relief patterns, rich texture, and a dark, glossy finish. The craft has roots in Buddhist artistic traditions of the Kamakura period and remains one of Japan’s most historically significant carved-lacquer styles.
Overview
Kamakura-bori belongs to the family of carved-lacquer traditions. While Chinese carved lacquer (tihong) relies on thick lacquer layers carved directly, Kamakura-bori instead uses **carved wooden substrates** onto which lacquer is applied. This technique allows for:
- pronounced relief carving,
- strong sculptural patterns,
- durable surfaces with deep colour and sheen.
Typical objects include trays, plates, tea utensils, Buddhist items, and decorative household objects.
History
Kamakura-bori traces its origins to the **Kamakura period (1185–1333)**, when Kamakura served as Japan’s political centre under the Kamakura shogunate. During this time, Chinese Song-dynasty Buddhist arts entered Japan, influencing local sculptors and lacquer practitioners. Artisans began producing carved wooden items coated with lacquer for temples, altars, and ritual contexts.
By the Muromachi and Edo periods, Kamakura-bori expanded to include everyday utilitarian wares and decorative items, maintaining its characteristic carved-relief style. During the Meiji period, Kamakura-bori gained national recognition through exhibitions and crafts associations. The tradition has continued through Taishō, Shōwa, Heisei, and Reiwa periods, supported by both long-standing workshops and contemporary carvers.
Characteristics
Key features of Kamakura-bori include:
- Deep carving (relief patterns carved into wood)
- Bold motifs such as flowers, foliage, waves, and geometric designs
- Multiple lacquer layers producing a dark red or black finish
- Strong contrast between carved and polished surfaces
- Durability due to the combination of hardwood and lacquer
The overall aesthetic emphasises solidity, sculptural form, and elegant simplicity rooted in medieval Buddhist artistry.
Production
While workshop methods vary, the general sequence includes:
- Preparing a wooden base (usually magnolia or katsura wood)
- Carving motifs using chisels and knives
- Smoothing carved surfaces and preparing edges
- Applying multiple layers of lacquer (red, black, or mixed pigments)
- Polishing to achieve a glossy finish
- Optional final detailing and protective coating
The craft requires skill in both woodcarving and lacquer finishing.
Uses
Kamakura-bori objects include:
- trays, plates, bowls
- tea utensils and incense containers
- writing implements
- Buddhist ritual objects
- decorative interior pieces
The style is widely used for both traditional and contemporary tableware.
Kamakura-bori Today
Kamakura-bori remains actively produced in Kamakura by numerous workshops and independent artisans. The Kamakura-bori Cooperative Association preserves traditional techniques while promoting new forms suited to modern lifestyles. The craft continues to appear in national exhibitions and is recognised as a major lacquerware tradition of the Kantō region.
See Also
References
- Kamakura City Cultural Heritage Division. Kamakura-bori: History and Development of Carved Lacquerware.
- Japan Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square. Kamakura-bori Profile and Techniques.
- Association for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries. Lacquerware Traditions of Eastern Japan. Tokyo, 2019.
