Updated at 2022-04-17
Kinma is the most representative of the five major Kagawa lacquer techniques. It is an inlay technique comprising a series of complex processes. First, the workpieces are coated with ten coats of lacquer. A special tool is then used for engraving patterns. Finally, the grooves are filled with colored lacquer. This technique demands the artisan's skill and patience to repeatedly engrave and inlay workpieces before polishing. The elegance of the final product reflects the time and energy needed for the technique. Therefore, kinma lacquerware is coined the king of lacquerware. Kinma was nationally recognized as a traditional craft by the Japanese government in 1976.
Alliance Date: July 18, 2016
Language: Japanese
Area: 1,876.72 square kilometers
Population: Approx. 919,000 people
Main Industries/Features: Tourism, industry, commerce, agriculture and fisheries