Japanese artist Kenji Honma works in a unique way. Trained in urushi harvesting and woodturning, he grows the trees, harvests the sap, refines the lacquer, shapes the timber, and finishes each sculptural vessel – all using the natural materials that he cultivates himself.

Filmed in the Okukuji region of Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan's second-largest centre for urushi tree harvesting, this documentary follows Honma through the whole process. From tapping urushi trees that have grown for more than a decade, refining the sap, shaping the timber and applying layer after layer of refined urushi – all whilst fresh saplings emerge to sustainably continue the cycle.

This film was produced with the support of the Toshiba International Foundation, with additional support from Susanna Pang, Dr Tsun-Woon Lee and Hiroyuki Maki.