Publication of “Study of the Japan-made Lacquerwork Found in Thailand (3) – Japanese Lacquerwork and Investigation of Lacquering Materials –”
At the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN), we have been conducting research on cultural properties located in Thailand in cooperation with the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand since 1992. Since 2011, TOBUNKEN has been involved in research on the Japan-made lacquered door panels of Wat Rajapradit, a first-grade royal temple in Bangkok, providing technical support for a full-scale restoration project of the panels currently being organized by the Fine Arts Department.
Apart from the lacquered door panels, in Thailand, Japan-made lacquerware can be found at libraries, museums, temples, palaces, and more. Historical exchanges in lacquerwork between Japan and Thailand were not limited to trade. At the beginning of the 20th century, several Japanese lacquer craftsmen were invited to Thailand to make or restore utensils, furniture, and other items for the royal family.
In March 2026, we published a book titled “Publication of “Study of the Japan-made Lacquerwork Found in Thailand (3) – Japanese Lacquerwork and Investigation of Lacquering Materials –.” The book summarizes the activities from fiscal years 2021 and 2025, as well as the results of the investigations conducted jointly by TOBUNKEN and the Fine Arts Department. To deepen our understanding of the lacquered door panels of Wat Rajapradit, these investigations include studies of lacquering materials used in Japan and Thailand, and also of lacquerware in Northern Thailand that influenced some Japanese lacquerware. Other studies described focused on Japanese-made lacquerware stored at Wat Bovonniwet, the Bangkok National Museum, and the Central Storage of National Museums, and on a ceremonial fan for which the stem was decorated by Mr. Miki Sakae (1884-1966), a Japanese lacquer craftsman who had worked in Thailand. This book is available in public libraries in Japan and some overseas libraries that hold documentary materials related to Japanese art.
As 2027 marks the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Thailand, we will continue our research into the exchange between the two countries.