Using strings as a material for lacquerware has two effects: it creates a pattern, and it strengthens the object. Regardless of its thickness, the string adds emphasis to the lacquerware body, and the

FOLDING SCREEN I was shocked by the image of the tsunami on the 11th of March, 2011, and painted the dragon and the emperor of the ocean that calm the wild waves. Photo by Koji Takanashi

Urushi-e, one of the oldest methods of lacquerware decoration, goes back to the Jomon period (14,500BC to about 300BC) and is done using iro-urushi (coloured urushi), made by mixing urushi and pigment.

Coconuts Leave the coconut outside for six to 12 months, and let insects and bacteria break down the flesh and oil that coconuts naturally contain. Wash and dry the shell and cover it with washi and linen

Natural materials such as leaves and nuts can also be used as a base for lacquerware, when processed properly. Ficus lyrata leaf First, dry the leaf and then coat the back with ki-urushi to let it soak

FLOWER BUNNY A SMALL BOX You can remove the upper part of the body and use it as a container. Photo by Koji Takanashi FLOWER BUNNY B SMALL BOX This is a variation of the other Flower Bunny. Photo by Koji

KIRIN (MYTHICAL CHINESE ANIMAL) INCENSE BURNER Kirin is a creature of Chinese myth. The smoke of the incense will come out from its mouth. Photo by Koji Takanashi CAT SMALL BOX The back of the cat is a

ENTWINED FISHES DECORATIVE BOX Two entwined fishes are a symbol of fertility in China. I designed this in three-dimensional form. Photo by Koji Takanashi

In the past, this method was mainly used for making Buddhist statues. A representative example is the magnificent statue of Asura that dates back more than a 1000 years, and the rest of Hachibushu (the

BIRD SAKE CONTAINER This boldly shaped bird is carved from cedar wood. Photo by Koji Takanashi

Once the piece of wood is carved into the shape of a container, coat it with ki-urushi (unrefined urushi) and let it set. Continue by layering nori-urushi and linen cloth, and follow with base coating,