Toshiko Noda is a traditional lacquerware craftswoman based in Minami-Ashigara, Kanagawa. Her meeting with Kosaku Noda left a strong impression that changed her life and set her on the path of lacquerware. Kosaku Noda became her teacher and later her husband.
After her husband’s passing, Toshiko Noda took over her husband’s work. Despite her age and the challenges facing her, she has kept pursuing her passion for making traditional lacquerware crafts.
This video presents an emotional dive into Toshiko Noda’s world in which she invites us to share her story.
About her crafts
The first traces of lacquerware (Shikki/漆器, or Urushi/漆) were found in Japan as early as 7000 BCE. The sap extracted from the lacquer tree was applied to the craft to protect the wood, but it was also used as glue for art purposes.
In modern Japan, wood and lacquerware crafts have slowly disappeared from daily life, given the impact of globalization. In this context, Toshiko Noda aspires to bring this tradition back to life by facilitating better access to lacquerware crafts. In particular, she creates easy-to-use utensils for young kids, like spoons and bowls, whose purpose is to awaken them and stimulate their sensitivity to art.
Her generosity and care for others are reflected in her crafts which quickly fit everyone’s daily life. You can admire Toshiko Noda’s crafts at Setoyashiki, located in the Kaisei town area of west Kanagawa.
I visited some lacquerware workshops in Japan and I have written about them here on Japan Travel too.
https://en.japantravel.com/wakayama/kishu-lacquerware/26866
https://en.japantravel.com/toyama/takaoka-lacquerware/44361
https://en.japantravel.com/ishikawa/wajima-kirimoto/26253