The Shifts in the Export Markets of Japanese Lacquerware, c.1860-1935

This paper identifies the market transition of Japanese lacquerware exports during the prewar period (1860-1935) and analyses its factors and characteristics. The paper divides its discussion into three periods. From the end of the Edo period to 1881, demand for lacquerware increased, especially in the European and U.S. markets, and the Japanese government's trade promotion policies and international expositions contributed to the expansion of exports. After 1882, however, export expansion was limited by the “poor-quality manufacturing” problem. After 1911, World War I led to an expansion of exports to North American markets and the Japanese imperial sphere (colonial markets), but quality problems remained an obstacle. It should also be pointed out that many production areas converted to domestic demand as the domestic market grew. Through these issues, this paper provides an overall picture of prewar Japanese lacquerware exports.