Profile

Originally from Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Kentaro Moroishi is a master craftsman of Japanese lacquer, or Urushi. Trained at the Wajima Technical Institute in Ishikawa Prefecture, he perfected the demanding techniques of lacquer application and dumaki-e, the delicate art of sprinkling metallic patterns onto lacquered objects.

In 2018, he and Yuko founded the brand Yukaku, based in Wajima, where the duo designs tableware, decorative objects, and sake accessories, while also leading workshops to introduce Urushi. An innovator, Kentaro also explores new mediums, such as the Hegi Board, a lacquered skateboard that transposes traditional techniques onto a contemporary object.

The craftsman's approach is distinguished by his creativity and playful spirit: he combines lacquer with a variety of materials—wood, linen, metal, or mother-of-pearl—to reveal the richness and versatility of Urushi, aiming to create objects that inspire wonder and bring a smile.

In 2024, after the destruction of his workshop and home in the Noto Peninsula earthquake, Kentaro and Yuko launched the "Urushi Tools and Materials Sharing Tour," a call for solidarity among Japanese artisans. Thanks to this support, they resumed their work in a temporary workshop and continued their mission: to pass on traditional know-how while reinventing lacquer for the 21st century.

Kentaro Moroishi thus embodies the successful fusion of artisanal rigor, innovation, and poetry, making Urushi a living and contemporary art form.