Colorful Japanese Lacquer Box from Southern Island

The high humidity and temperature in Miyazaki Prefecture in Kyushu (southern island, Japan) is perfect for drying lacquer wares. During the Pacific War, there was a group of people who migrated from Okinawa to Miyazaki. Among them were the artisans and workers from the Ryukyu Lacquer Ware. It was at a time that over 200,000 casualties were recorded in Okinawa alone. The distinctive rich culture that developed with the old Rhukyu Kingdom was mostly destroyed during the time. Miyazaki lacquer ware was started by these people from Okinawa. The techniques used in the Miyazaki lacquer ware are of the Ryukyu Lacquer Ware, except local woods were chosen for the base. The colorful decoration on this lacquer box is unique, different from other Japanese lacquer wares; a large amount of color pigments were crushed and mixed with the lacquer first, then shaped into the sheets of design. Each layer of design is placed on the base board as a lacquer work is adhered.