Dark blue box with design in kinma.

Living National Treasure Yoshito Yamashita

The characteristics of the kinma (incised and colour-filled decoration) technique are the painstaking repetition of wide-ranging engraving and color filling. This process with its dozens of layers of pale to deep colored lacquer enables the intricate expression of color lacquer gradation. Sometimes the maki-e technique is jointly used to add extra beauty. With the free use of these techniques, YAMASHITA produces his works with distinctive designs inspired by the realm of nature. His style, earning the highest praise, is artistically outstanding and expresses the subtle vitality and poetic sentiment of nature.