Vietnamese designer DAO HUY HOANG is currently in Hirosaki to study Tsugaru lacquerware.

Hoang first encountered calligraphy (decorative lettering) while attending university, and currently works in calligraphy design. He discovered Tsugaru lacquerware eight years ago while making penholders and other items for writing calligraphy. Hoang recalls, "I learned about it on social media, and that's what led me to start making Tsugaru lacquerware pens."

According to Hoang, Vietnam, known as a lacquer production area, has a long history of lacquer art culture, including lacquer painting. Hoang has also been familiar with lacquer, drawing lacquer paintings. He learned Tsugaru lacquer by himself by watching videos on websites. This is his eighth visit to Japan, and his first time in Hirosaki. Before visiting Hirosaki, he studied makie in Tokyo.

According to Hoan, he contacted Tsugaru lacquerware craftsman Imadate of Ima Lacquerware Studio (Matsubara Higashi 2, Hirosaki City) on social media in the hopes of solving the problem of the shrinkage that occurs when lacquer dries, and of learning techniques such as polishing and changing lacquer directly from the craftsman.

After receiving the call, Kon approached CASAICO (Joto Chuo 4), a Tsugaru lacquerware studio and gallery with an attached lacquerware class, asking if he could act as a go-between for Hoan. Some students come from France and Spain to learn about gold lacquering at CASAICO. Ayako Kasai, owner of CASAICO, said, "I feel like Tsugaru lacquerware is getting more attention overseas. I hope there will be more people like Hoan and we can spread Tsugaru lacquerware to the world."

Hoang will stay in Hirosaki until May 13th, and will learn from Kon how to apply the luster of Tsugaru lacquerware and how to apply gold leaf in a five-day curriculum planned by Kasai. On the first day, the 8th, he learned how to make and use "trick lacquer." Hoang smiled and said, "I'm glad I had the opportunity to learn properly from a craftsman."