Osamu Osamu Matsuzaki

Born in 1979. He studied under his father, lacquer artist Toru Matsuzaki, and produces his work in Motegi Town, Tochigi Prefecture. Usually, lacquerware is made by a division of labor between a woodworker and a lacquerer, but he does all the steps himself. He carves out shapes directly from wood, called "hollow pieces," using a chisel and plane, and applies multiple coats of lacquer.