Wakasa Lacquerware
Wakasa lacquerware is said to have started in the early Edo period from 1596 to 1615. An lacquerware artisan, Sanjuro Matsuura created a lacquerware which had a pattern of seabed of Wakasa Bay. The pattern was designed by referring to Chinese lacquerware. The techniques of producing lacquerware which Matsuura had developed was improved during the Manji era (1658 to 1660). Because families of the lord supported the artisans, Wakasa lacquerware became the core industry of the Obama Domain. It is said that the golden age of Wakasa lacquerware when Wakasa lacquerware were popular and sold a lot is the middle to late Edo period (1603-1868), but after that, the demand of Wakasa lacquerware has decreased. These days, artisans are trying to create new ways to apply design, such as PC mouse and accessories. The number of artisans has been decreasing and, as of 2020, there were 4 artisans of Wakasa lacquerware.