Captivated by Kishu Chests: The Journey of Chiaki Azuma, the First Female Traditional Craftswoman

2025.11.26

#Artisan

#Craftsman

#Wakayama

#PaulowniaFurniture

#TraditionalCraftsperson

#KishuTansu

#LivingWithTradition

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#History

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Chiaki Azuma is a certified Traditional Craftswoman in the lacquering division for Kishu chests, making her the first woman in Japan to earn this title in the paulownia chest category. She once worked late nights in the fast-paced apparel industry, a world away from craftsmanship. But her marriage marked a turning point, leading her to dive headfirst into a Kishu chest workshop.

A new home in an unfamiliar land, her first taste of traditional crafts, and the challenge of balancing it all with raising children—"I thought it was a world I'd never be a part of," she admits. Her path to becoming enchanted by paulownia wood and embracing her pride as an artisan was paved with the unique joys and struggles that came with marrying into the craft.

PROFILE

Chiaki Azuma

Born: November 2, 1982
1998: Enrolled in the Clothing Department at Moriyama Girls' High School.
Won the Kyoto Shimbun Award at the KDK Contest as a member of the design club.
April 2001: Enrolled in the Pattern Making Department at D's Fashion College. Won awards at the NDK and KDK Contests.
2002: Joined Five Foxes Co., Ltd. as a part-time employee.
2004: Promoted to a full-time position at Five Foxes Co., Ltd.
2005: Married.
August 2005: Resigned from Five Foxes.
2007: Gave birth to her eldest son.
2009: Gave birth to her second son.
2009: Officially joined the family business (had been helping out prior).
2011: Gave birth to her third son.
2022: Certified as a Traditional Craftswoman (Lacquering Division) for Kishu chests.

An Unexpected Connection that Began with a Chance Meeting

After graduating from a fashion college in Kyoto, Chiaki worked as an apparel sales associate. The physically demanding job often kept her working late into the night, living a hectic life. It was during this time that she happened to meet Fukutaro Azuma, a Kishu chest craftsman who would later become her husband.

"At first, I didn't even realize he was interested in me (laughs). But things just naturally fell into place."

Her marriage led her to move to Wakayama, where she discovered that her husband's family ran a Kishu chest workshop. For Chiaki, who is from Shiga, paulownia chests were not a familiar part of her life. "My mother had one, but I didn't even know where they were made," she recalls.

"I never imagined I would end up working in that workshop. After marrying into the family, I found out how famous the workshop was and got goosebumps."