The gallery "CASAICO" (Joto Chuo, Hirosaki City, TEL 0172-88-7574 ), which exhibits mainly Tsugaru lacquerware, reopened on January 11th.

Kasaiko, which opened on January 11, 2011, used to be a select shop with workshops and lacquer classes, but owner Ayako Kasai has renovated it into a gallery shop that specializes in Tsugaru lacquerware, a dream she had always dreamed of. It has a museum and workshop room that exhibits the process and history of Tsugaru lacquerware.

The store area is approximately 25 tsubo. The layout of the store was revised. The centerpiece of the renovation is the museum, which features more than 300 Tsugaru-lacquered tiles measuring 10 cm square, allowing visitors to see the evolution of the Tsugaru-lacquering technique, ``Togidashi Kairi-nuri,'' which has been around since the Edo period. We displayed explanatory panels categorized by the craftsmen's work movements, and also created a window that allows visitors to see the craftsmen at work.

Mr. Kasai said, ``We thought about establishing a new museum to create a place that would be a gateway for people to learn about Tsugaru lacquerware, but it turned out to be a bigger project than we had originally expected.It's been 13 years since we opened, so We decided to make a drastic renovation."

The gallery shop will exhibit and sell Tsugaru lacquerware such as interiors, objects, and accessories. Starting February 8th, we will be selling interior panels framed with Tsugaru lacquer tiles. According to Kasai, there were many requests to commercialize the tiles displayed at the gallery at exhibitions, so they decided to commercialize them in time for the renovation.

In the workshop room, in addition to "Urushi Painting & Makie" (experience fee = 2,000 yen ~) and "Easy Kintsugi Experience" (4,500 yen), there is also a "serious lacquer class" (1 session = We offer a course (3,500 yen) where you can experience the entire process of Tsugaru lacquerware.

Although it has been renovated, it will continue to hold solo exhibitions and special exhibitions as before. Mr. Kasai says, ``Tsugaru lacquerware is a traditional craft that has continued to change throughout its long history.Sometimes people point out that it doesn't change, which makes me feel disappointed.At our store, we have learned how Tsugaru lacquerware has changed over time. "I hope people can learn about the past and see the works of young Tsugaru lacquerware artisans," he says with a smile.

Business hours are 10:00 to 17:00. Business days will be published on the website and SNS.