Updated at 2022-04-17
Zonsei is one of the five major Kagawa lacquer techniques. It originated in Southeast Asia, later spreading to China before arriving in Japan. However, Zonsei and its Chinese counterpart are very different. Mr. Tamakaji Zokoku, the father of Kagawa lacquerware, added new elements to Chinese lacquer techniques and developed a new Japanese lacquer craft. In the simplest sense, zonsei is a technique of painting colorful patterns or pictograms on lacquer and then using a blade to carve the outlines and contours of the pattern/pictogram. The meticulous and elegant carvings are timeless and often used on small ornaments. The pin in the picture is an example of zonsei lacquer.
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