Light that shines through time

I got the universe.
The twinkle of stars seems to fall from the endless pitch black darkness.
Each of the stars is filled with rich colors and emits a never-ending sparkle.
That's what I thought the moment I held Asai's mother-of-pearl work in my hands.

The light that comes from the pitch black space that seems to suck you in is the expression of Asai's honed technique.
Just like the light from the stars that illuminates us today across light years of time and space, they are also a pulsating light, a bundle of lacquer art techniques that have been passed down from the past.
At the same time, by turning the shell pieces into mother-of-pearl, the brilliance of each individual life is preserved forever in the lustrous texture of the lacquer.

Asai says. He says that the techniques he has cultivated are ``borrowed'' from his predecessors who left their mark on the long history of lacquer art. In order to make full use of the ``borrowed'' item, he attaches his own body to it, entrusts it to it, and sends it out into the world with expressions that reflect the times and his own sensibilities.
``Borrowed things'' must be returned someday. We must pass ourselves through and pass it on to the future. Therefore, it was "borrowed" until then.

There is no fixed design motif or theme.
Lacquer does not exist as a means of self-expression, but rather exists to deliver the beauty of lacquer to the world and to the future.
Growing lacquer from trees and making tools. Mastering the material, honing the technique of makie raden, and choosing the appropriate expression.
Then, we capture the moment when the lacquer shines the most and connect it forever.
All we do is to share the beauty of lacquer with as many people as possible.
However, even in this act that seems to erase oneself, something certain oozes out.
It is an exquisite nuance unique to Asai that combines delicacy and elegance, gorgeousness and fragility that are common to Asai's works.

My encounter with Soda Zaiku, my lacquer art teacher from high school, who recognized my talent and helped me develop it. All of the many turning points led Asai to become a lacquer artist.
Now, Asai stands in the midst of a torrent of Japanese culture.
Look at your position and what you need to do.
Beyond the original intention, a different, yet certain, view of lacquer art unfolds.

B-OWND