Yamanaka, a hot spring village in southern Ishikawa, is famous for its woodwork. The town specializes in kiji, the wooden core of lacquerware, which is made by shaving the wood down to the desired shape. They say the secret of Yamanaka kiji’s durability is that it’s shaved vertically rather than horizontally. This process is known as kashoku-biki, which literally means “adding decoration while carving.” The results are beautiful natural patterns and subtle textures that also help you keep your grip! Read Less