Known internationally as “japan,” urushi—Japanese lacquer—has long captivated the world. Both an essential part of daily life and a revered form of art, lacquerware reflects the soul of Japanese craftsmanship.
This film shines a gentle, attentive light on each step of the traditional Tsugaru-nuri process, a lacquerware technique native to Aomori Prefecture. At the heart of the story is Miyako, a young woman aspiring to become a Tsugaru-nuri artisan, and her quiet, stoic father Seishiro. As they confront the challenges of lacquer and of family, their bond begins to transform.
Mayu Hotta stars as Miyako, portraying a young woman delicately swayed by anxieties about the future and the stirrings of first love. Seishiro, her father and a seasoned Tsugaru-nuri craftsman, is played by Kaoru Kobayashi, a beloved veteran of Japanese cinema. Both actors trained with local artisans to authentically portray their characters and the lacquerwork process.
The film is directed by Keiko Tsurusaka, whose feature debut Town of Whales received acclaim at the Berlin and Busan International Film Festivals, and who also adapted Kanae Nishii's novel Makuko for the screen. With richly depicted seasonal landscapes, locally rooted cuisine, and the quiet charm of the people, the film paints a portrait of a father and daughter who, like layers of lacquer built up over time, deepen their bond through the spirit of urushi.
The Aoki family consists of Seishiro, a Tsugaru-nuri lacquerware craftsman, and his daughter Miyako, who works at a supermarket while helping her father with his craft. Years ago, Seishiro's wife left, tired of always coming second to his work. Miyako’s older brother chose his own path, refusing to take over the family trade.
Though drawn to the world of Tsugaru-nuri, Miyako can’t quite bring herself to tell her father that she wants to follow in his footsteps. And Seishiro, awkward and emotionally reserved, pushes her away, insisting that life as a lacquer artisan is far from easy.
Still, Miyako remains determined, defying those who doubt her. Her quiet resolve begins to stir something in the fractured hearts of her family—
and slowly, the bonds between them begin to mend.
