Is lacquer really called “japan” in English?
The issue of what to call “urushi” in English is quite deep, involving the interpretation of the word “japan” as well as the problem with “Chinese lacquer.” At our company, we face the latter, where both Japanese and Chinese lacquer are often called “Chinese lacquer” by foreigners. It’s unfortunate that lacquer from Japan is called China, but it may be partly because Japan has not actively promoted urushi.
About 100 years ago, Dr. Toshiyuki Majima from Osaka Imperial University was the first in the world to identify urushiol, the main component of urushi lacquer, which led to some recognition of Urushi overseas. Those knowledgeable about Japanese culture or fond of lacquerware sometimes refer to Japanese lacquerware as Urushiware, but the barrier of “Chinese lacquer” remains thick.
The translation issue with “japan” is complex, stemming from the significant influence of Japanese lacquer on medieval Europe, leading to the development of lacquering techniques like japanning. While modern Japanese people (us) would appreciate our lacquerware being cherished and called “japan,” in the West, there was an attempt to mimic it locally. Marie Antoinette is a famous example, but only a few could collect genuine Japanese lacquerware.
Japanning (spelled with two Ns) is tied to woodworking and other crafts, with its influence still present today. Especially among antique enthusiasts, japanning remains relevant. There are various approaches to japanning, including using parts of imported Japanese lacquer products or creating similar blackish paints from scratch.
So, I reached out on Bluesky in English, asking if anyone has used the word “japan” to mean lacquer or lacquerware and if there are any stories related to it.
The majority of native responses indicated it’s virtually a dead term. Many said they’ve lived in the UK, USA, or Australia for decades without hearing it once.
However, those knowledgeable about antiques shared various stories. Japanning paint (not actual lacquer) was sold in cans up to the 1970s, and black japanned screws are currently sold online.
One interesting story was about a British woman from Pontypool, Wales, where japanned furniture was produced up until the early 20th century. It had declined by 1945.
There were also tales about U.S. soldiers returning from occupied Japan with lacquerware called “japan,” but such stories are becoming rare.
The most intriguing mention was Steely Dan’s 1973 album “Countdown to Ecstasy,” featuring a song “Bodhisattva” with lyrics “The shine of your Japan,” clearly referring to the gloss of lacquerware. The band’s name itself is derived from a giant dildo called “Steely Dan III from Yokohama” featured in William S. Burroughs’ “Naked Lunch,” making the mention of lacquerware in their lyrics somewhat expected.
In conclusion, while “japan” as “lacquer” is almost a dead term abroad, “japanned” and “japanning” still hold meaning among antique enthusiasts and cultural heritage experts. No English natives I spoke with understood Japanese lacquerware as “japan,” as current Japanese people might hope.
Suzanne Ross, a British urushi artist in Wajima, insists lacquerware is not called “japan,” and David Atkinson, president of Konishi Arts and Crafts, wouldn’t deny someone saying “lacquer is japan,” likely understanding terms like japanned from his studies at Oxford University.
It seems that calling lacquerware “japan” is a notion held mainly by Japanese people, turning into a sort of Japanese-English. Foreign enthusiasts may understand it as referring to japanning. However, language evolves over time, so “japan” could eventually come to mean lacquerware, but I personally advocate for “Urushi.”
