He believes that he only feels truly satisfied if the final products turn out well. Therefore, he takes time to create fine products. He does his best to remain focused and puts his heart into his work each day.

Between 2013 and 2014, as a part of the Hida Takayama Culture and Arts Festival, special violins, violas and cellos were produced. It was a collaboration of a stringed instrument manufacturer in Cremona, Italy—a UNESCO registered intangible cultural heritage—and Hida Shunkei. Kumazaki was chosen to apply lacquer onto the products. He had always wanted to paint lacquer on all types of wood, and he wanted to try painting stringed instruments even though he knew it would be challenging. Cremona’s excellent stringed instrument manufacturing technique and Kumazaki’s positive attitude combined perfectly to produce new types of lacquer products.
In the beginning, Hida Shunkei artisans only made simple products such as trays, but they began to make tiered boxes and water jars (for tea ceremonies) toward the beginning of the Meiji Period (1860s). After that, craftsmen competed against each other to create different kinds of products using originality and ingenuity.
Woodturners believe that the true beauty of Hida Shunkei comes from the woodgrains, so they purposefully strive to accentuate the woodgrains. Painters carefully apply lacquer to further enhance the woodworkers’ hard work. Hida Shunkei is a unique type of lacquerware found only in Hida. The products are simple but strong, created by combining the beauty of nature and the passion of the craftsmen.