The Appi River flows from Hachimantai City to Ninohe City in Iwate Prefecture. The northern part of the former Nanbu domain, including its watershed, is the area called Oku-Nanbu by Kunio Yanagita, the founder of Japanese folklore studies. The land is praised for its agricultural landscape that exists alongside the river. The skill and technique of making vessels from wood, scraping off high-quality lacquer, and creating durable and beautiful lacquerware with careful use of the valuable lacquer was handed down from ancient times to today.

This culture now supports the production of precious domestic lacquer. The lacquerware of each area is loved by people as Appi Lacquerware and Joboji Lacquerware, and has become a world-class treasure as a Japan Heritage.

Thinking about the history that remains in the landscape, visiting forests to learn about techniques, and meeting craftsmen to encounter their passion—we will take you on a deep and beautiful journey of lacquer, following the stories of the past and present.