Word: lacquers
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Look up "Japan" in the dictionary and you may be surprised to learn that the country gets second billing. In some dictionaries, the first definition of the word is lacquer: it joined the English lexicon after European traders began importing richly varnished and decorated cabinets, trunks and coffers from Japan in the 16th century...
...heyday of lacquer ware is long gone, and in recent years most Japanese retailers watched helplessly as lacquer became unfashionable and sales plummeted. But one boutique that is bucking the trend is Tokyo's Yamada Heiando, a family-run business that has overhauled product lines to meet modern tastes. In addition to the traditional banquet trays and soup bowls, Yamada Heiando offers slick accessories for the urban sophisticate, from penholders to mouse pads...
...burn during World War II, so you can still find the small houses and the covered markets of the past," he explains. "And the people all know each other." Another favorite of his in shitamachi Tokyo, north of the Ikebukuro district, is Sendagi, where traditional shops sell Japanese paper, lacquer ware and shell combs. Some of these treasure troves are tucked in right next to Tokyo's busiest districts. Just 15 minutes from the Ginza, along the Sumida River, is Eitai, another village filled with mini-restaurants where only five people can sit. Another gem, the Kiyosumi Garden, is only...
...George Nelson's oversize Eye Clock became an instant best seller when it was reintroduced last fall at the Museum of Modern Art store. And Vitra worked closely with Jean Prouvé's family to reproduce the French designer's complete collection of mid-century furniture, down to the trademark lacquer finish...
...also saw glimmers of hope. The agedashi dofu—fried tofu served in a fish broth and alongside grated daikon radish—was surprisingly rich and flavorful. The teriyaki salmon was exactly as it should be—grilled, perfectly done, in a gooey sweet lacquer, and accompanied by a little side of crisp, stir-fried vegetables...