Yoshidaya Shikki is responsible for most of the lacquerware used at Eihei-ji, which is one of the head temples of the Soto school of Zen Buddhism. They offer a wide variety of lacquerware used at Japanese Buddhist temples, including the oryoki, which is a set of nested bowls and other eating utensils for the personal use of Buddhist monks. Others include the oguzen and hachijyuwan, which are kinds of serving vessels used for hospitality at Eihei-ji. There is no question that Yoshidaya Shikki is the best at providing a diverse range of temple-related lacquerware.

Eihei-ji is a very prestigious temple, so Yoshidaya makes high-quality lacquerware that is not only tough and long-lasting, but also beautiful to look at. The traditional designs are reproduced, and lacquered using the shin-nuri, which is a pure black finish that requires advanced techniques. These products are used at Eihei-ji in addition to other temples all over Japan.

Yoshidaya has received orders directly from Germany, Switzerland, as well as the United States. People all over the world who are interested in “Zen” are now paying more and more attention to lacquerware. Lacquerware used by monks – namely wooden products finished with natural urushi – are the perfect gateway to learning more about Zen Buddhism and culture. By continuing to make authentic Echizen lacquerware, Yoshidaya Shikki strives to preserve this art that is so integral to traditional Japanese culture.

Taken from the sap of the lacquer tree, urushi has been used in Japan since ancient times. It was first used to reinforce primitive, hollowed-out wooden vessels. Since then, people have accumulated much wisdom in making things with lacquer over the past 1500 years.

In order to preserve this history and tradition, Yoshidaya Shikki is committed to continue producing lacquerware using the old techniques. Growing up seeing his father work as a lacquer artisan and having worked in lacquering himself, the current head of this family business himself experienced the difficulty and value of painting with natural urushi. Their wish is that when people hold a piece of their lacquerware in their hands, they can feel the beauty of handmade craft, the quality workmanship, as well as the hard work of the craftsmen. Because of this, they believe that it is important to not skip any of the production processes.

Yoshidaya Shikki takes pride in making authentic Echizen Lacquerware, making sure that the traditions and skills of craftsmen can be continued for future generations.

These oryoki bowls are the same ones used by monks in training at Eihei-ji, one of the head temples of the Soto school of Zen Buddhism. It has a high base, which is typical of Japanese lacquerware, so it can be stacked for storage to save space. These bowls are also ideal for those who want to experience Zen culture, with its simple black color perfect for daily use as it can be paired with any dish. Finished with natural urushi, these authentic wooden lacquerware bowls are durable and can be used for a long time.