Lacquerware artisans from Bhutan taking a training program in Kawada district, Sabae City

Pema Lethro (photo left) and Sonam Peldon painting lacquer bowls

I interviewed and took a video of one of lacquer artisans from Bhutan, Sonam Peldon and Pema Lethro’s training sessions. They both came from Bhutan and learned the process of making lacquer crafts from September to December of 2016 in Kawada district, Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture. The Kawada district is known as the village of Echizen lacquerware. On that day, they visited a studio of a Makie (Japanese lacquer sprinkled with gold or silver powder) master, Takenobu Komamoto for a training session.

Takenobu Komamoto: a traditional art artisan of Echizen lacquerware and a Makie (Japanese lacquer sprinkled with gold or silver powder) master

Toward the end of the training session, Mr. Komamoto and his neighbors gathered around “Irori” fireplace and had a dinner with them.