Concept

Urushi: The Origin of Japanese Industry

Urushi has been used in Japan for over 9,000 years, making it one of the oldest industrial materials in the world.
With natural properties such as waterproofing, preservation, and adhesion, it supported the foundations of society—ships, architecture, armor, and everyday tools.
During the medieval period (12th–16th century), urushi became indispensable for armor and temple architecture.
In the early modern Edo era (17th–19th century), it evolved into a national-scale industry, supporting furnishings for castles, objects for feudal lords, and later, after the Paris Exposition, the global export of “japan” lacquerware.
Even today, urushi remains a natural material with remarkable functional qualities— a symbol of Japan’s craftsmanship and manufacturing spirit.
However, with modernization and the rise of chemical paints and synthetic resins, urushi was pushed aside by the power of efficiency.
In that shift, we lost sight of its true value: the strength of a natural material, the beauty that deepens over time, and the sophisticated system of techniques built by generations of artisans.
What has been lost is significant.
Now, Duco returns to genuine urushi.
Urushi is not a relic of the past.
It is a high‑performance material created by nature— one that evolves into a material for the future when reinterpreted through contemporary technology and the wisdom of those who came before us.

We draw upon

• the inherent power of a material that has endured since the Jomon era
• the technical systems established through the medieval and early modern periods
• the perspectives of modern manufacturing

By reconnecting these threads, we create value that is truly one of a kind.
Duco brings the power of natural urushi back into the present, opening new possibilities for the future of Japanese craftsmanship.