Blog Post

"ELLE DECOR Japan" OCTOBER 2019

Iijima Takashi • Sep 06, 2019
Maruya's article is published in the October issue of "ELLE DECOR"  magazine.  The following is a translation.

A handmade bicycle with sophisticated Japanese design and craftsmanship

Maruya was honored to receive the Outstanding Finish / Paint Award at Europe’s largest Handmade Bicycle Show - BESPOKED held in Bristol, the UK in May 2019. 
Maruya is the first Japanese Brand to receive an award at BESPOKED.
The award-winning work “DAIKOKU” is a design featuring traditional Japanese crafts like “lacquered (Urushi）painting”, “Makie”, etc. as its motifs. 
Lacquer（Urushi) has long been a valued as the most beautiful paint in Japan. However, because it uses sap, it is slightly discolored with light, and because it is easily scratched, Maruya used a highly durable urethane paint that reproduces the color of lacquer (Urushi ). Since it is difficult to reproduce the color of lacquer (Urushi) with urethane paint, they were supervised by Urushi craftsmen.
While being a mainstream stream of bicycle in Europe, Maruya competed internationally with a sophisticated, elegant Japanese design.

Note)
Concerning the painting method, urushi craftsmen apply red lacquer (clear lacquer) in two layers after painting with vermilion.
This technique follows traditional “lacquering” (Tamari-nuri),creating a deep expression.
While calculating the thickness, craftsman painted the layers paint five times, creating beautiful lines accurately at intervals of several millimeters.
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