Seiko YOSHIMURA
-URUSHI JEWELRY-
ーHandcrafted urushi jewellery and everyday objects
Part of TENOKUNI NIPPON: a collaboration of six brands dedicated to connecting Japan’s handicrafts to the future.
Ground Floor / Room No.5
About the Exhibitor
Seiko YOSHIMURA – URUSHI JEWELRY creates contemporary jewellery that brings the beauty of urushi lacquer into everyday life. Believing in the unexpected versatility of urushi and its potential in the world of fashion, Yoshimura works with traditional techniques such as kin-makie (gold decoration), raden (mother-of-pearl inlay), rankaku (eggshell mosaic), and kawarinuri, a distinctive textural lacquering method.
Each piece is entirely handcrafted by the artist, from shaping the wooden or fabric core to decoration, lacquering, and finishing. Often described as the material closest to human skin, urushi feels soft and warm to the touch. When worn, it naturally harmonises with the body, bringing a subtle sense of beauty and charm to everyday moments.
With a strong commitment to sustainable craftsmanship, the brand uses leftover wood, fabric, and other natural materials as the core structure of each piece, ensuring that nature’s blessings are not wasted.
Through these works, Seiko YOSHIMURA invites wearers to experience the gentle warmth and timeless beauty of urushi.
About the Products
Seiko YOSHIMURA’s works explore urushi as both jewellery and everyday objects, inviting it into daily life with a sense of ease and freedom.
The collection centres on jewellery such as rings, earrings, bangles, and obidome, alongside functional pieces including folding fans, tea scoops, and sake cups—objects long cherished within Japanese seasonal and cultural traditions.
Using traditional urushi techniques such as kin-makie with pure gold powder, raden with abalone and mother-of-pearl, quail rankaku eggshell mosaic, and layered kawarinuri finishes, each piece reveals the strength of the material and the warmth of handcraft.
Urushi is made from tree sap and is often said to be close to human skin in nature. Soft and warm to the touch, it becomes lightweight yet durable once cured, is resistant to water, and has natural antibacterial properties, making it well-suited for everyday use.
Designed to sit naturally against the skin and deepen in character over time, these pieces offer a jewellery experience meant to be enjoyed, lived with, and gently nurtured through daily wear.
