Seisaku Nakajima

Born in Shiga Prefecture in 1956, Seisaku Nakajima is a veteran urushi craftsman based in the historic town of Hikone. His practice spans ceramics, traditional urushi lacquering, the restoration of lacquerware and cultural objects, and kintsugi.

Nakajima began his training in 1978 under Shinsui Ichino, a master of Tachikui ware. In 1981, he entered the field of urushi lacquering under the guidance of his father, a specialist in the lacquerwork of traditional Hikone Buddhist altars. Through this apprenticeship, he acquired the knowledge of materials and processes that has formed the foundation of his work for more than four decades.

In 2005, Nakajima was certified as a Traditional Craftsperson in urushi lacquering by Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. The designation recognizes the advanced skills and extensive experience of craftspeople engaged in preserving and carrying forward Japan’s traditional industries.

Drawing upon established Japanese techniques, Nakajima creates objects intended to become part of contemporary life while retaining a visible connection to the traditions from which they emerged. His practice reflects a craftsman’s close understanding of urushi—its durability, sensitivity, and capacity to protect and renew an object over time.

Nakajima has also contributed to the preservation of cultural heritage through the restoration of sacred and historic objects. His work includes restoration at Saimyō-ji Temple in Shiga Prefecture, whose historic structures include designated National Treasures. These projects require both technical precision and respect for the materials, methods, and histories embodied in each object.

In his kintsugi practice, Nakajima does not seek simply to return a damaged vessel to its former state. Instead, restoration becomes a transformation through which fracture and the passage of time remain visible. Lines of gold and carefully polished urushi bring the history of the object into its renewed form, revealing beauty not despite its imperfections, but through them.