Nikko has launched a new project which has been years in the making. Material Waves marries Nikko fine bone china with other materials, such as bamboo and tin.
Two series “Rinkou” and “Suzuhaku” will be released as the first and second collections from the project. Both series are products that have been completed through a process of trial and error, making full use of the technology that has been cultivated up to now.
The Material Waves project sees Nikko collaborating with bamboo crafts by Chifuyu Enomoto, a bamboo craft artist, and tin by Nousaku Corporation, a cast metal manufacturer in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture.
Nikko explains the project started with the idea that by sharing techniques and knowledge with people who work with different materials, they can create products and new values that have never existed before. “By crossing different materials to create new products and continuously disseminating them, we aim to transcend the boundaries between crafts and industrial products, and to preserve the handiwork and traditions of industries and craftspeople throughout Japan,” the company adds.
All materials have wave properties, and the waves that express these properties are called “material wave”. The name of the project is derived from the hope that the waves generated by Nikko will be transmitted one after another and eventually bring about changes in various forms, while expressing the new possibilities created by the combination of the waves of each material, such as ceramics, bamboo, metal, glass, wood, and so on.
The Rinkou series is a collaboration between Nikko and the bamboo crafts of Chifuyu Enomoto 
The second series of Material Waves is Suzuhaku, a collaboration between Nikko and tin made by Nousaku Corporation 
“The name Suzuhaku is a combination of the characteristic whiteness of Nikko fine bone china, the Japanese sound “haku” meaning “foil” used for the edge finish, and the Japanese sound “suzu” meaning “tin”
The Rinkou series is a collaboration between Nikko and the bamboo crafts of Chifuyu Enomoto, a bamboo craft artist. The series is inspired by the contrast of light and shadow overflowing from the delicate and beautiful mesh drawn by “Rinko weaving”, one of the techniques of bamboo craft, and the transparency of Nikko fine bone china which shines in white. The bamboo used is madake bamboo from Fukuoka, Japan. Chifuyu Enomoto made numerous prototypes in increments of 0.1 mm to achieve a width and thickness of bamboo that is practical to use while maintaining delicacy. Bamboo is a labour-intensive material that varies in softness, hardness, and bendability from one piece to the next. Using about four basic types of tools, the artist’s technique is used to process and finish the product.
The second series of Material Waves is Suzuhaku, a collaboration between Nikko and tin made by Nousaku Corporation, a cast metal manufacturer in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture, Japan.
Nikko explains: “The name Suzuhaku is a combination of the characteristic whiteness of Nikko fine bone china, the Japanese sound “haku” meaning “foil” used for the edge finish, and the Japanese sound “suzu” meaning “tin”. Generally, the most common damage to plates is chipping of the edges. SUZUHAKU was born out of the desire to cover the edge with metal (tin) to make it stronger and to ensure that it can be used with care for many years to come. By establishing a new technique of combining ceramics and metal (tin), we aim to expand the range and possibilities of products that have never been seen before.”
Prototypes were created repeatedly until completion
At first, Nikko wanted to use the Igurumi method ( a method in which the material to be integrated is placed in a mold in advance, and melted metal is poured into the mold to integrate the material.) However, after repeated trial runs, it became clear that it would be difficult to produce large-sized tableware. In the first place, burrs are always present in the casting process, so it was extremely difficult to eliminate burrs. Nevertheless, Nikko tried various methods in pursuit of a beautiful finish, and finally arrived at the “pasting together” method.
Wataru Sakuma of the Nikko Design Office, who was in charge of the development, said, “Ceramics, which are pottery, are not all exactly the same. It was difficult to create an even and beautiful finish, taking into account the slight differences between the individual pieces”.
Tin rims attached by “pasting together” are made by a method called “Namagata casting method“. The casting method is traditionally used in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture, where casting sand mixed with silica sand and a small amount of water and clay is pressed around a wooden mold to make a sand mold. Since the molds are not fired or treated with chemicals, the sand can be easily reused and is excellent for mass production. “During the prototype production stage of SUZUHAKU, we tried various casting methods, but ultimately decided to adopt this “Namagata casting method“, which can be adapted well to the individual differences of ceramics,” he added.
