Wajima Lacquerware Institute Holds Late Entrance Ceremony; Students Working through Adversity for Traditional Arts

The Yomiuri Shimbun

15:21 JST, December 3, 2024

KANAZAWA — The Ishikawa Prefectural Wajima Institute of Lacquer Arts in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, held its entrance ceremony on Tuesday. This is eight months later than usual and was delayed by the Jan. 1 Noto Peninsula Earthquake and torrential rains in September.

Fifteen students at the ceremony renewed their determination to acquire the skills needed to become lacquerware artisans in Wajima, home to one of the nation’s major centers for traditional lacquerware craft.

The institute had been closed due to damage caused by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, but classes resumed in October. However, the school was unable to accept new students because the instructors and other staff were also affected by the record rainfall that hit the area in September.

Eleven of the 15 students will start a special training course for those with no previous experience with maki-e lacquer arts, while the other four will move on to the regular training course. The number of incoming students was decreased by five due to the earthquake, according to the school.

Kunihiro Komori, a 79-year-old living national treasure and director of the institute, said in his speech: “With the support of many people, we are finally able to welcome you. Congratulations on your long-awaited enrollment.”

“I hope that you will not give in to the disasters but will grow along with the recovery of Wajima and work hard to achieve your goals,” he said.

A representative for the new students said her house in the city had been destroyed in the earthquake, and the temporary housing unit she stayed was flooded after the torrential rain while she was attending the special training course.

“[Before moving on to the maki-e lacquerware department of the regular training course,] I sometimes wavered. But each time I thought about the instructors and staff who made the learning environment for us, I was able to face lacquerware work with a renewed determination,” she said.