Chopstick Artisan: Takashi Abe

The lacquer craftsman who discovered the allure of making chopsticks.

Takashi Abe, a lacquerware artisan from Kawatsura, creates chopsticks that feel both smooth and subtly moist, making them a delight to hold. His chopsticks have an intriguing texture that you can't help but enjoy.

It has been about 15 years since Abe-san became a chopstick specialist. Historically, he's the first lacquerware artisan in the Kawatsura tradition to specialize solely in chopsticks. Originally, Abe-san worked on lacquered bowls and their sales, but during a lacquerware study session, someone recommended chopsticks to him, and he became completely hooked.

Chopsticks are just two sticks, but they’re like a microcosm of lacquerware.

"Chopsticks are just two sticks, but they’re like a microcosm of lacquerware. The lacquer patterns used for a table or chopsticks are the same, so if you can lacquer chopsticks, you can do anything. The shape of chopsticks doesn’t change, so if I want to add variety, I have to do it through the lacquerwork. That's what makes it interesting. You predict how the lacquer will turn out, but sometimes the results are unexpected. Most of the time, things don't go as planned, but occasionally, the outcome is better than expected. That’s what makes it fascinating. There's always something new to discover, and that's how I got deeply involved in making chopsticks."

With lacquerware, you only need to label what’s on the outermost layer, so whether it's pure lacquer or mixed with urethane, you can’t tell from the label. Unfortunately, many products labeled as lacquerware are mostly made with urethane resin, with only a small percentage of real lacquer. Abe-san decided to take the opposite approach: he committed to making chopsticks using only natural lacquer, from start to finish. This has become his unique selling point.

I believe it's important to make chopsticks using natural lacquer, all the way through, even if it costs a little more. 

"Chopsticks are something we use every day, and they go into our mouths. Yet, most chopsticks are coated in urethane-like resin. Eventually, the tips wear down, exposing the wood, and we’re essentially ingesting that. That’s why I believe it's important to make chopsticks using natural lacquer, all the way through, even if it costs a little more. If everyone else is doing the same thing, why not try something different?"

Using natural wood and pure lacquer, Abe-san is dedicated to crafting safe, high-quality chopsticks. Recently, he's become increasingly confident in the safety of his products.

"When I first started making chopsticks, we didn’t even hear about environmental hormones, but later those concerns emerged, and I realized I was on the right track." He is particularly mindful of the durability of the chopstick tips, as they experience the most wear and tear—and some people even chew on them.

"It wouldn’t be good if the wood shows through after just a few uses, right? Customers are paying money for these chopsticks, so I want to provide something that exceeds their expectations. It's gratifying when they feel they’ve bought a great pair of chopsticks."

He believes that as long as he continues to create honest, high-quality products, his work will be recognized. 

Abe-san is a true craftsman. He believes that as long as he continues to create honest, high-quality products, his work will be recognized. Staying focused on innovation and avoiding short-term gains, he consistently produces chopsticks that stand out. Perhaps this is why people are drawn to his chopsticks. Even without knowing that they are made with 100% natural lacquer, there’s something inherently captivating about them, a testament to Abe-san's dedication to his craft.