03Bespoke Production for Brands and Corporations
From logo plates and commemorative items to exhibition fixtures,
we provide lacquer procucts that articulate a company’s unique worldview.
urushi—combined with contemporary material expression—results in pieces with a singular identity.
No two are ever the same, quietly yet unmistakably elevating brand value.
- Corporate anniversary gifts
- VIP presentation items
- Special gifts for contract signing or project completion
- Limited-edition pieces for luxury brands
“Giving form to a company’s intention—beyond what mass production can achieve.”
This is Duco’s approach to product creation.
Tableware / Natural Pattern Service Plates / Table Plates / Titanium Cups / Tumblers — Design & Production — Rhus Project
A deep synchronicity with the designer’s intent
We study thoroughly the concepts envisioned by architects and designers, interpreting their intentions to construct bespoke expressions of color, light reflectivity, and tactile quality that harmonize with the surrounding space.
| Features | After the initial consultation, we develop a design proposal and proceed with production based on the finalized drawings. If preferred, we can also produce pieces using design data created in Illustrator or other formats provided by the client. |
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04Seminar
Sharpening sensibility, not technique
What we offer is not a simple “hands-on workshop” to learn lacquer techniques.
Using Wajima-nuri and Echizen lacquerware, participants experience the core of traditional craftsmanship—creating spatulas, practicing hira maki-e, fuki-urushi, and roiro polishing.
By engaging with a material that has no single “correct answer,” teams work together to create one piece through a shared process.
This program is designed to elevate each participant’s aesthetic awareness and sensibility, strengthening the creative foundation of the entire organization.
Sensory Team-Building Experiences
A program that activates the five senses
Engaging with urushi—a natural, organic material that cannot be fully controlled through digital means—
stimulates creativity and offers teams an opportunity to share a heightened sense of co‑creation and aesthetic awareness.
| Program Features | Please let us know your preferred seminar duration (3 hours, one day, weekly sessions, etc.). We offer various formats such as tool-making, lacquer work, product creation, and group production. |
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| Spatula Making | Participants experience the process in which undercoat artisans craft hinoki spatulas, shaping them according to purpose. By observing the material closely and determining the form through subtle cues, they refine their sensory judgment. |
- Hira Maki-eThrough a flow of “learning the history and design principles of maki-e in the morning, then practicing brush handling and applying maki-e to a vessel in the afternoon,”
participants strengthen design thinking, concentration, and the precision of hand sensitivity.
- Roiro PolishingParticipants polish repeatedly with fine powders to achieve the deep black known as “the darkness of a deep lake.”
This cultivates the ability to perceive minute differences that define the quality of the final finish.
Each of these processes involves observing, discussing, and completing the work as a team—a collaborative journey.
As a result, participants naturally develop
- Decision-making ability
- Observational skills
- Concentration
- Team communication
These improvements translate directly into enhanced creativity and problem‑solving in the workplace.
Short-format courses (2–3 hours) are also available.
Duco’s program is a place to cultivate sensibility, enriched with historical and cultural elements.
It is highly effective as corporate training.
05Repair / Redesign
Breathing Contemporary Life into Existing Objects
This is not the act of simply restoring an aged piece to its original state.
From temple and shrine ornamentation to shamisen and portable shrines, we regard the history and memory embedded in existing objects as materials in themselves.
Through a contemporary sensibility, we infuse new life into these pieces—an approach of true redesign, rather than mere repair.
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Tsugaru-nuri Low Table
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Nunome-nuri Togidashi (Textured Lacquer Finish)
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Tsugaru Shamisen Doukake (Body Cover) Set
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DRC Musical Instrument
From temple restoration to musical instruments such as the shamisen
By applying our independently developed materials, we draw out the charm of existing objects
and transform them into art pieces that harmonize naturally with contemporary spaces.
Collaborative Repair with the Rhus Project
For large‑scale architectural restoration, Duco works together with the Rhus Project team.
The craftsmen are based in Sabae, Fukui Pref. and Wajima, Ishikawa Pref.
Combining traditional lacquer techniques with our modern material innovations, we redesign each piece according to the client’s needs.
Repair and Redesign of Your Cherished Belongings
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Vermilion Lacquered Toso Set
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Soba Kneading Bowl (Cloth-reinforced Relacquering)
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Tea Pot
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Cloth-reinforced Bowl (Complete Relacquering)
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Menpa Bento Box (Complete Relacquering)
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Milk Pitcher (Tomotsugi Joint Handle Restoration)
Service menuServices
At the Core of Duco
Six Materials and Technologies
Unlocking New Expressions of Urushi
Grounded in 25 years of repair techniques and traditional methods inherited from the Edo period, Duco has been developing proprietary materials since 2003.
01Interior Decorative Production (Architecture & Spatial Art)
Decorative Art Born from Six Materials
We translate architectural concepts into tangible form through the texture and craftsmanship of urushi, creating artwork that seamlessly integrates into spaces.
02Co-Creation Development
Co-Creating Uncharted Beauty Beyond Boundaries
Beyond our proprietary materials, Duco evaluates and tests compatibility with various partner substrates to maximize the full potential of urushi.
03Product Manufacturing
Crafted with Care for Special Milestones
Products utilizing Duco’s material technologies are chosen as commemorative gifts, luxury novelties, and executive presents that mark significant corporate milestones.
04Seminars
Sharpening Sensibility Through Craftsman Philosophy
Experience the maker's mindset and philosophy directly from artisans to sharpen your aesthetic sensibilities.
We offer specialized programs that unlock individual creativity and elevate organizational innovation from the ground up.
05Repair / Redesign
Breathing New Life for Modern Living
Far beyond mere restoration, we redesign cherished assets to seamlessly align with modern lifestyles.