Yuki Konishi

It’s a pleasure to connect with you through my work. 
Thank you for welcoming this piece into your life.

I create pieces that celebrate the quiet beauty of natural materials—bamboo, wood, cloth, and Japanese paper—brought together through the traditional kinma technique.

I hope this piece brings a subtle glow to your everyday moments, and offers a small sense of calm and richness that deepens with time.

With heartfelt gratitude,
Yuki Konishi

The kinma technique originated in regions such as Thailand and Myanmar and was introduced to Japan around the mid-Muromachi period (15th century).

During the late Edo to Meiji periods, Zōkoku Tamakaji of Takamatsu in Kagawa refined the method, establishing it as one of the “Three Traditional Techniques of Kagawa Lacquerware,” a legacy that continues today.

In kinma, patterns are carved into the lacquered surface with a special knife called a ken, then filled with colored lacquer and meticulously polished to a smooth, flat finish, revealing delicate and distinctive designs. This technique of engraving and filling with lacquer is sometimes called “urushi inlay.”

With its many diverse carving styles, kinma continues to actively evolve within Japan’s traditional lacquer arts.