Development of the shikki industry in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture

Abstract

Describes how the Wajima shikki (lacquer ware) industry developed while maintaining its traditional production processes and production of high-grade goods through the analysis of mechanism of a productive circulation, labour force, and material supply. The Wajima shikki industry has accumulated high-level production techniques since the 18th century. Small shikki establishments, such as nushiya (lacquer varnishers), kijiya (wood body makers), and kashoku (decoration) makers are densely located in built-up area of Wajima city. The increase inthe demand for Wajima shikki since the 1960s has led to transactions between nushiya and wholesalers in cities. The nushiya developed efficient varnishing processes, depending upon kaiuketori subcontractors. A new mechanism of productive circulation in the Wajima shikki industry was organised, whild traditional production processes and high-grade goods production were maintained. The Wajima shikki industry employs labourers in the built-up area as well in rural areas. Before 1920, when a material basis existed in the Noto Peninsula, the production processes of high-quality shikki, a mechanism of productive circulation with nushiya as the core, and an apprenticeship system were established. The labourers employed from Wajima city and its vicinity learned high skill of shikki production through the apprenticeship system. Since the middle of the 1950s, the Wajima shikki industry has coped with the increasing demand to reorganise the mechanism of a productive circulation. The shikki guild, shikki materials merchants, and wood merchants supply traditional shikki materials from other regions to make up for their shortage in the Noto Peninsula. Wajima city has the establishement, workers and apprenticeship, ande materials suppliers, and production of Wajima shikki completes, in this area. -from English summary