You may hear sounds like these as you walk along the coast. What you hear are the sounds of Wakasa chopsticks being sharpened. Nishizu has transformed from a fishing town to a chopsticks manufacturing town, and rightly so. Wakasa chopsticks are best sellers in Japan and most of them are made right here in Nishizu.

The history of Wakasa lacquerware dates back to the Edo Period when a Kitamae-bune brought back lacquered trays from China. A craftsman was inspired by the pieces and came up with his own technique, using shells to apply multiple layers of lacquer and then polishing it. His inspiration came from watching the waves crash on a sandy beach and he wanted to recreate the beauty he saw in nature. Lord Sakai named it “Wakasa lacquerware” and promoted it as a specialty of the Obama clan.

Back then, Wakasa lacquerware was used for luxury goods such as tea utensils and sword sheaths. It’s also said that other Japanese regional lacquering techniques were based on those of Wakasa, like Tsugaru of Aomori and Wajima of Ishikawa. Techniques must have traveled and spread from the lacquerware shops found at ports of call around Japan.

It wasn’t until the Meiji Era that Nishizu started producing Wakasa chopsticks. It was then that demand for luxury items was fading, which meant the Kitamae-bune business was declining. Furukawaya had a big decision to make. They made the rational choice to sell their ships and close the business before it had a chance to sink. And because of this Goshoen remains to this day.