Delicate Techniques as the Essence of Tokyo Shippou

What exactly is Tokyo Shippou?

Shippou-yaki is a craft technique created by layering a glass-like glaze over a metal surface and firing it at high temperatures.

While typical Shippou-yaki often has raised, three-dimensional finishes, "Tokyo Shippou" is characterized by relatively flat designs.

Additionally, when creating Shippou-yaki, there is a groove on the metal surface for applying the glaze. In standard Shippou-yaki, this groove is about 0.8mm deep, while Tokyo Shippou has only 0.4mm. Because the grooves are shallow, it demands exceptional skill, allowing for the expression of delicate designs.

Can you tell us about the founding of "Hatakeyama Shippou Seisakusyo"?

The father who started this workshop was originally a craftsman making ribbons for medals. However, after the war, as that work disappeared, he encountered Shippou-yaki while searching for a new path. He then apprenticed at Shoji Shippou, honed his skills, and became independent in 1951.

Since elementary school, I have helped out with simple tasks like laying out Shippou-yaki on nets to dry. Even as a child, I thought, "Shippou-yaki is beautiful and interesting."

What kind of products were made in the early days?

When people hear "Shippou-yaki," they might envision accessories or art crafts. However, during the era when my father established this workshop, Shippou-yaki was much more commonplace.

Shippou-yaki was used for the logos of refrigerators and washing machines, car emblems, corporate insignias, and many everyday products. During Japan's period of rapid economic growth, Shippou-yaki was in demand for its durability and beautiful colors.

Is Shippou-yaki for industrial products still being produced today?

It's mostly disappeared. With advances in resin and printing technologies, there are now many cheaper and mass-produced alternatives, leading to a significant decline in demand for Shippou-yaki. Nowadays, the focus is on producing accessories.

However, we still create custom pieces like corporate badges or reproduce car emblems in Shippou-yaki. We also take special orders from individual customers for unique emblem designs. 

What is the unique charm of Shippou-yaki in a market flooded with substitutes like resin?

The surface of Shippou-yaki is glass-like, giving it a depth and luster distinct from ordinary paints and resins. Using Shippou-yaki for emblems or accessories significantly enhances their luxury appeal.

In particular, Tokyo Shippou, which has a high demand for industrial products, has been sought after for its intricate designs. Because of this history, the techniques of delicate color expression and the beauty of precise lines are now being applied in modern accessory production.

The Birth of Light-penetrating Shippou

Could you tell us about the production process of Shippou?

The production of Shippou begins with preparing the base metal. We mainly use copper and silver, cutting them according to the design.

Next, using a thin brush called a "hose," we apply glaze into the grooves of the base metal.

Shippou is fired at high temperatures of over 800 degrees, causing the glaze to become glassy and produce vibrant colors. However, in a single firing, the glaze does not adhere sufficiently to the base metal. Therefore, we layer the glaze, fire it, and then layer it again. This process is repeated.

Finally, we polish the glaze, which bulges slightly from the grooves, to create a smooth surface. Polishing curves, such as those on rings, is particularly challenging. This work relies on the sensitivity of the fingertips and requires significant skill and experience, making it a vital step that influences the beauty of the finished piece.

Delicate techniques are required at every turn, aren’t they? Please tell us about the unique characteristics or ingenuity of Hatakeyama Shippou Seisakusyo.

While typical Shippou workshops often handle around 80 colors of glaze, our studio boasts over 200 colors, allowing us to express subtle differences in hue.

In addition to traditional techniques, we are also challenging the technique of "Totai Shippou (Plique-à-jour)." Totai Shippou involves cutting away part of the base metal and applying the glaze on it for firing. By allowing light to pass through, it achieves a beauty similar to stained glass, resulting in a delicate finish suitable for accessories.

In the case of Totai Shippou, since there is no base metal, we use surface tension to apply the glaze, preventing it from running off, but this meticulous task of building up the glaze in fine areas requires patience.

What is a particularly memorable piece for you?

It would be the piece titled "Tokyo Rakkei." This is a collaboration with a designer to express the landscapes of Tokyo in jewelry, for which we received the Tokyo Governor’s Award. The positioning of the glaze application was exceptionally intricate and challenging.

Additionally, since the firing temperatures and properties of the glazes differ between Totai Shippou (the transparent parts) and regular Shippou (the opaque parts), firing them together is extremely difficult. Therefore, we adjusted the firing temperature in stages and increased the number of firings, ultimately layering the glaze about 16 times.

Connecting Tokyo Shippou to the Future

What initiatives are you undertaking to preserve the tradition of Shippou?

In Tokyo, there are only three traditional craftsmen working in Shippou, myself included. While it is necessary to have successors to pass on the techniques, it is crucial for people to understand the appeal of Shippou; otherwise, artisans cannot thrive. That’s why it’s essential to first increase awareness among many people about its existence.

Shippou is less widely known than Edo Kiriko glass or Arita ware porcelain, but it is actually integrated into our everyday lives. For instance, it is used in school emblems, hotel decorations, wristwatches, cufflinks, and so on. Many might feel that traditional crafts seem unattainable, but they are indeed much closer to us than that.

To share the charm of Shippou with more people, my daughter has taken the lead in enhancing our online presence through our website and social media, utilizing our online shop, and hosting exhibitions.

I’ve heard that the rising costs of materials have also become a significant challenge.

Yes. The prices of glass and metals used in glazes have skyrocketed, particularly for red glazes which contain gold and have doubled in price. Thus, we find ourselves in a situation where reviewing our pricing is unavoidable.

Given this, are there any new challenges you would like to take on moving forward?

I want to try to create more freely and explore new designs. As I mentioned earlier, while Tokyo Shippou is integrated into various aspects of everyday life, many people often do not realize it’s Shippou at first glance. Therefore, I hope to make pieces that are more easily recognizable, yet beautiful and refined.

What does Shippou mean to you?

To me, Shippou is my very reason for living. While most Shippou artisans would usually take a break when work is slow, I find myself wanting to create something new even without work. The world of Shippou is so deep that I often research how to find beautiful combinations of glazes or develop new techniques, even on my days off.

I also think it’s fascinating how a piece of Shippou changes in character depending on the viewer’s angle or the way light hits it. When you actually hold it, you can truly appreciate its three-dimensionality and variations in light. If given the chance, I would love for you to see it in person and experience the beauty of each color.