Zonsei Pin

Updated at 2022-04-17

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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.

Details

Name

Zonsei Pin

Giver

Moriyasu Kamada Chairman of the Tourism Council of Representatives, Kagawa Prefectural Assembly

Friendly States

Japan

City

Kagawa Prefecture

Alliance Date: July 18, 2016
Language: Japanese
Area: 1,877 square kilometers
Population: Approx. 910,000 people
Main Industries/Features: Kagawa Prefecture serves as an access point between Honshu to Shikoku, earning it the nickname Shikoku Gateway. The prefecture boasts abundant agricultural products, minimal natural disasters, and distinct seasonal natural landscapes. Kagawa Prefecture also focuses on regional revitalization with an emphasis on supporting industrial transformation and providing financial assistance to companies establishing facilities in the area.

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