PRE-REGISTER for Live Japanese Master Artisan Demonstration - DC Pen Show 2026

An Evening of Urushi Art with Shogo Hariya: Live Master Artisan Demonstration

Saturday, August 8 | 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | @ DC Pen Show 2026 - Junior Ballroom

Join UrushiPen.com for a rare opportunity to experience the centuries-old art of Japanese urushi lacquer and maki-e firsthand with master artisan Shogo Hariya, visiting from Japan for the DC Pen Show. He is most well-known in the Fountain Pen community for his maki-e work on the ShiZen brand's latest maki-e pen masterpiece: the ShiZen Kingfisher's Devotion pen. Pre-Registration with the form below is required (scroll down on this page).

Whether you are a fountain pen enthusiast, collector, artist, or simply curious about traditional Japanese craftsmanship, this special after-hours event will take you behind the scenes of one of the world's most demanding and revered decorative arts.

Hosted and emceed by Jason Lee of UrushiPen.com alongside featured guest David Parker of Figboot on Pens, this live demonstration will guide attendees through the complete maki-e creation process—from initial design concepts to the application of natural urushi lacquer, precious metal powders, raden (mother-of-pearl), curing, and polishing. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the materials, techniques, and cultural significance that transform a fountain pen into a functional work of art.

The artisan will present the demonstration in Japanese, and a professional Japanese-English interpreter will be present to provide real-time interpretation for attendees.

Topics will include:

• The history and cultural significance of urushi and maki-e
• Traditional materials, tools, and brushes used by artisans
• Design development
• Surface preparation and lacquer application
• Gold and silver maki-e powder techniques
• Raden (mother-of-pearl) application
• The differences between hira-maki-e, taka-maki-e, and togidashi maki-e
• Polishing, drying, and curing processes

The evening will conclude with a Q&A and a special maki-e fountain pen raffle. Raffle Official Rules

Opportunities to learn directly from a practicing Japanese maki-e master are exceptionally rare in the United States. Admission is free with admission to the DC Pen Show. Space is limited. Sign up now to guarantee your spot before we turn on the waitlist! Due to limited capacity, we will need to cap the attendance for this event. If you decide later you will not be able to attend the DC Pen Show or this event, please send us an email at info@urushipen.com to cancel to open up your slot for another attendee.

Japanese Master Artisan Profile

Shogo Hariya began mastering the art of urushi and maki-e at age 18 under his parents' guidance, both of whom are practicing artisans themselves. Driven by a desire to create meaningful hand-carved art, he blends traditional techniques with modern innovation, applying maki-e to everything from classic tea utensils to contemporary jewelry, fountain pens, and stone figurines. His distinctive artistic voice draws deep inspiration from nature—particularly bird watching and gardening—as well as historic Meiji-period Japanese crafts. Hariya’s award-winning mastery has been showcased at prestigious venues in Japan nationwide, including the National Convention of the Japan Traditional Craftsmen Association, the Tokyo Dome Tableware Festival, and a solo exhibition titled “The World of Hariya Maki-e” at the Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store.

Pre-Registration Form 

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