Abstract
This paper describes how the Wajima shikki (lacquer ware) industry developed while maintaining its traditional production processes and production of high-grade goods through the analysis of mechanism of a productive circulation, labor force, and material supply.
The Wajima shikki industry has accumulated high-level shikki production techniques since the 18th century. Small shikki establishments, such as nushiya (lacquer varnishers), kijiya (wood body makers), and kashoku (decoration) makers are densely located in built-up area of Wajima city. nushiya were core establishments of the Wajima shikki, industry, while kijiya and kashoku makers developed as their subcontractors. nushiya secured customers for their high-priced shikki through peddling.
The increase in the demand for Wajima shikki since the 1960s has led to transactions between nushiya and wholesalers in cities. The nushiya developed efficient varnishing processes, depending upon kaiuketori subcontractors, because the nushiya could not do all the varnishing themselves. A new mechanism of productive circulation in the Wajima shikki industry was organized, while traditional production processes and high-grade goods production were maintained.
The Wajima shikki industry employs laborers in the built-up area as well as in rural areas. Artisans in particular live mainly in rural area. The Wajima shikki industry also offers employment opportunities to the people who have returned to Wajima after living elsewhere for several years.
Laborers are trained through apprenticeship to become highly skilled artisans. The apprenticeship is an effective system for passing on skills through practice on the spot. The artisans are required to settle in Wajima, because the skill can be learned only there.
The Wajima shikki industry traditionally acquired urushi (raw lacquer) and wood, which were the main materials, within the Noto Peninsula. The Wajima shikki industry established production techniques, mechanizm of productive circulation, and an apprenticeship system using these materials. These material resources disappeared in the 1920s in the Noto Peninsula.
Today, the Wajima shikki industry can get only jinoko (ground diatomite powder) within Wajima. Therefore, the shikki guild, shikki material merchants, and wood merchants in the built-up area of Wajima purchase traditional materials from all over Japan to assure a constant supply.
The development of the industry can be summarized, as follows:(1) Before 1920, when a material basis existed in the Noto Peninsula, the production processes of high-quality shikki, a mechanizm of productive circulation with nushiya as the core, and an apprenticeship system were established. (2) The laborers employed from Wajima city and its vicinity learned high skill of shikki production through the apprenticeship system. (3) Since the middle of the 1950s, the Wajima shikki industry has coped with the increasing demand to reorganize the mechanism of a productive circulation. nushiya depended for their varnish processes upon the kaiuketori subcontractors. (4) The shikki guild, shikki materials merchants, and wood merchants supply traditional shikki materials from other regions to make up for their shortage in the Noto Peninsula. (5) Wajima city has the establishments, workers and apprenticeship, and materials suppliers, and production of Wajima shikki completes, in this area.
