Inden means India-derived and implies products came from India. Inden products are deerskin handicrafts dyed with Japanese lacquer. Some leather products were brought into the country by Portuguese ships in the 17th century. The Kofu Basin has been known for its use of deerskin and Japanese lacquer. The high temperatures and high humidity of the basin is suited for drying Japanese lacquer. It is said that Yushichi Uehara devised the unique methods of putting lacquer designs on deerskin about 400 years ago and the history of Koshu Inden started. Inden was designated as one of the Traditional Crafts by the country and also as one of the Traditional Crafts of Yamanashi by the Yamanashi Prefectural Office. (Refer to the articles on August 2, 2023)
The exhibition of “The Patterns Of Inden, Plant Patterns On Deerskin” has been held at the Inden Museum in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture during June 24 to September 10, 2023. (https://www.inden-ya.co.jp/, https://www.inden-museum.jp/)
A flower arrangement, Inden patterns, Inden products, an example of the “fusube” dyeing method, a lunch box and a wounded trunk of a lacquer tree
The Inden Museum, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 8/08/2023
FYI
Another Inden manufacturer, INDEN YAMAMOTO (https://www.yamamoto-inden.com/)