Lacquerware in Modern Design Tradition Meets Today

Last time, we explored Kishu lacquerware, one of Japan’s Three Great Traditions, and how it brings quiet beauty to daily life. Today, let us take the story further. Lacquerware is not only about tradition. It also inspires modern design, showing how timeless craft can live in today’s lifestyle.

Tradition Meets Design

For centuries, lacquerware has been treasured in Japan. Yet in recent years, designers have found new ways to bring it into modern life. From small lifestyle items to larger pieces for the home, the material continues to surprise. Its depth of color and subtle glow speak across cultures and styles.

At the Modern Table

Lacquerware also finds a place beside contemporary tableware. A glossy black tray can frame a white porcelain plate. A deep red bowl can balance glassware and stainless cutlery. Even in a minimalist setting, lacquerware adds warmth and contrast. It does not clash—it completes.

Why It Matters Today

What makes lacquerware relevant now is its ability to connect old and new. It proves that craft is not only for museums or special occasions. A piece of lacquerware on your dining table shows that heritage can be part of everyday living, in ways that feel both fresh and timeless.

Closing

In our last article, we focused on Kishu lacquerware itself. Here, we looked at how lacquerware inspires modern design. At Asho Sora, we want to learn from both—the quiet elegance of tradition and the creativity of modern design—as we shape our own pieces. Our aim is to bring the spirit of Japanese craft into daily life, where beauty lives in both the past and the present.