Our Master Artisans

The Master Artisans Behind Every CHERRYBELL Piece

Every product in our store has a story -- and a person -- behind it. Here are some of the artisan workshops we work with.

Nakatsu Wagasa -- Oita Prefecture

Tradition: Edo-period umbrella craftsmanship (since the 17th century)

In a small workshop in Nakatsu, Oita Prefecture, master craftsmen still split bamboo by hand and layer washi paper exactly the way it was done 400 years ago. Once made for everyday use as Japanese umbrellas, today the same techniques are used to create our Wagasa-style lanterns and air purifiers.

Why it matters: There are fewer than ten Nakatsu Wagasa workshops still operating. By bringing their work to a global audience, we help keep this living tradition alive.

Featured products: Wagasa Hanabi Air Purifier

Yagenji Kiln -- Arita, Saga Prefecture

Tradition: Arita porcelain (since 1616)

Arita is the birthplace of Japanese porcelain. In 1616, a Korean potter named Yi Sam-pyeong discovered kaolin clay nearby -- and Japan's porcelain industry was born. For four centuries, Arita kilns have refined the brilliant white porcelain, cobalt-blue brushwork, and high-fired gold accents that define the craft.

Yagenji Kiln still uses traditional techniques: each peony is hand-painted, each gold accent is fired into the porcelain rather than applied as a coating. The result is tableware that lasts generations.

Featured products: Arita Ware Teapot and Teacup Set

Wakasa-Nuri Lacquer -- Obama, Fukui Prefecture

Tradition: Wakasa lacquerware (since the early 17th century)

In the small fishing town of Obama on the Sea of Japan coast, lacquerers have been refining the Wakasa-Nuri technique for 400 years. Each pair of chopsticks is built up in over 20 layers of natural lacquer, with mother-of-pearl, gold leaf, or eggshell embedded between layers. The result is a pair of chopsticks that can last a lifetime.

Featured products: Wakasa-Nuri chopsticks and gift sets

Cypress Woodworking -- Various Prefectures

Tradition: Hinoki (Japanese cypress) carving (centuries-old)

Japanese cypress (hinoki) is famous worldwide for its fragrance, durability, and antimicrobial properties. It is the wood used to build Shinto shrines that have stood for over 1,000 years. Our cypress plates and serving boards are hand-carved from sustainably harvested hinoki.

Featured products: Cypress hexagon plates, square plates

Why We Do This

Japan's traditional crafts are at a crossroads. Many workshops have closed in the past 50 years. Younger generations rarely choose to apprentice. Without a global market, many of these crafts will disappear within a generation or two.

We believe these crafts belong in the world -- not in museums. Every order you place helps a master artisan continue their work, train an apprentice, and keep a centuries-old technique alive.