Negoro Lacquer: Heishi Vassel
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Negoro Lacquer: Heishi Vassel
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A refined Negoro lacquer heishi bottle vessel by Koichi Kosaka.
Heishi is a traditional Japanese form originally used to offer sake or water before Shinto shrines and Buddhist altars, and is especially known as a ceremonial vessel for sacred sake. Finished in vivid vermilion Negoro lacquer, this piece carries a quiet ritual dignity, while subtle black undertones give the surface depth and character.
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The Art of Negoro Nuri
Negoro Nuri, also known as Negoro lacquer, is a traditional Japanese lacquerware technique known for its distinctive layers of vivid vermilion lacquer over black lacquer. Once flourishing in the medieval period and later lost for centuries, this remarkable craft was revived in the modern era through Negoro-ji Temple in Wakayama.
The deep vermilion of Negoro lacquer has long been associated with vitality, protection, and renewal. As the red surface gradually reveals the black lacquer beneath, each work carries a quiet sense of time, transformation, and enduring beauty.
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Koichi Kosaka
1949–2021
Koichi Kosaka was born in 1949 in Kiso-Hirasawa, Nagano Prefecture, one of Japan’s historic centers of lacquerware production.
He devoted his life to the art of lacquer, creating Negoro lacquerware in a traditional style while exploring its place in everyday life. His work reflects refined technique, respect for ordinary objects, and the quiet beauty found in the contrast between vermilion and black.
Kosaka received numerous honors throughout his career, including recognition from the Governor of Nagano Prefecture as an outstanding artisan.