Mori Kougei was founded in Tokushima Prefecture in 1953. Specializing in the technique of pasting “tsuki-ita,” a wood veneer sliced as thin as paper, the company has manufactured decorative plywood, fixtures and furniture. Since 2020, Mori Kougei has focused on developing its own original products, introducing items such as the “RAYS TRAY,” a side table “STAND,” and a wall clock “CLOCK,” all featuring intricate wood grain patterns crafted with advanced techniques combining tsuki-ita. The company continues to create products that reflects the sensibilities of the current era.

Based on the “RAYS TRAY,” the “RAYS PLATE ROUND” was designed as a dish for food presentation. It is made from white sycamore, which has a distinctive glossy pattern (shrinkage) that runs perpendicular to the natural wood grain. By arranging triangularly cut tsuki-ita veneer in a radial pattern, the plate achieves a mesmerizing design reminiscent of ripples spreading across a water. The way light interacts with the surface further enhances its ever-changing expression.

Following its positive reception both in Japan and overseas, the “RAYS PLATE ROUND” is now available with a new finish: “Ai-urushi (indigo lacquer),” developed in collaboration with Tsutsumi Asakichi Urushi Store, a Kyoto-based company specializing in lacquer refining and sales. This innovation emerged from a deep curiosity to create something new by combining lacquer and indigo, two traditional natural materials that symbolize Japan. After years of experimentation, the team successfully developed “Ai-urushi” by mixing natural raw lacquer with powdered indigo cultivated and processed in Tokushima. The result is a deep navy blue color that beautifully highlights the natural tones and intricate grain of white sycamore, achieved through an exceptionally delicate wiping lacquer technique called fuki-urushi.

Combining the refined beauty of indigo with the practicality and durability of lacquer, the “Ai-urushi” plate is designed to complement both everyday dining and special occasions. A fusion of natural materials and traditional techniques, this is a creation meant to be cherished for years to come.

◾️Product information
“RAYS PLATE ROUND L Ai-urushi”
Size: Φ360mm × H12mm
Wood type: White sycamore
Finish: Ai-urushi (Indigo lacquer)

◾️Contact
Mori Kougei
https://mori-kougei.com/
Mori Kougei Online Store
https://shop.mori-kougei.com/