Japanese Chopstick Craft | All About Wakasa Chopsticks

All About Wakasa Chopsticks

We have a one of the largest collections of Wakasa chopsticks. Wakasa chopsticks are one of the most special forms of chopstick hand craftsmanship, with family shops passing down their unique techniques and designs from father to son for centuries. In the modern era children are less likely to follow in their family businesses. A hundred years ago there were more than a 150 families making these beautiful chopsticks. Today there are only 9 shops remaining.

The name Wakasa comes from where they are made and what their designs represent. They are centered in Obama, Japan, located on the crystal clear waters of Wakasa bay. Craftsmen use all natural materials to represent scenes of the ocean floor below.

Elegant Wakasa chopsticks have been made in Fukui prefecture, Japan since the Edo period (1603-1868). Craftsmen apply multiple layers of lacquer (as many as 50+) to each chopstick and may also incorporate small pieces of shell or mother of pearl. Frequently the lacquer coatings are carved in order to expose the layers. Carving also determines the final shape of the chopstick. The chopstick is then polished to bring out the beauty and colors of the lacquering. These painstaking processes take several weeks to a couple months to complete. Truly every pair is a work of art.