Japanese Lacquerware Plate: Kyusu

A piece of Japanese craftsmanship from one of Kyoto’s leading lacquer workshops Isuke. Founded nearly 200 years ago during the Bunsei era and a supplier of tableware to many famous Kyoto restaurants, Isuke’s charm lies in combining traditional Japanese lacquerware techniques with contemporary design and bright colours.

These plates have a lacquer finish called ’mehajiki’, which means the natural wood grain still shows through the deep glaze.

They feature motifs from famous Edo-period woodblock prints and have been designed in collaboration with Kazushige Miyake who also designs for MUJI.

They’re mamezara-sized, literally a ‘bean plate’, a key part of everyday dining in Japan. Use for sweets treats, snacks or as a coaster, trinket dish or chopstick rest.