The Day I Sent Urushi Saplings to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
2026-08-01T11:00
Around 2002, there was a great deal of excitement following the discovery of the world's oldest lacquerware artifacts at the site in Hokkaido.
At the time, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew—a UNESCO World Heritage site in the UK—maintained a collection of lacquer trees originating from China. However, I explained to the curator that the lacquer trees native to northern Tohoku were a distinct variety, and I decided to send actual saplings from joboji to them.
International transport of plants was exceedingly strict. Most shipments back then ended up stranded at the airport, and Yamato Transport (UPS Yamato) was practically the only service capable of handling it reliably. Whenever I look at the export permit and shipping slips from those days, the intense tension of running around to manage quarantine and customs procedures comes rushing back.
Those joboji saplings crossed the ocean and journeyed to Kew in England.
It remains an unforgettable memory, knowing that Japan's lacquer history and its unique trees contributed a meaningful stepping stone to global research and collections.
