Artisans revive man’s life with handcrafted prosthetic
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In Wajima, Japan, six craftspeople collaborated to create a custom prosthetic cover for Makoto Tanigaki, a 52-year-old man who lost his right arm in an industrial accident.
Tanigaki had previously struggled with standard prosthetics, finding them heavy and unsightly, and began a project to design “prosthetics you want to wear” using 3D-printed covers. He connected with artisans in Wajima, known for their traditional lacquerware, hoping to create a prosthetic inspired by Japanese armor.
The Wajima artisans applied their skills, undercoating, painting, polishing, and applying gold leaf, to the 3D-printed base, passing the work between them as they traditionally would with lacquerware. The final prosthetic features four covers in black and red, adorned with a phoenix on the shoulder, representing the collective artistry of Wajima. Tanigaki expressed that receiving the finished prosthetic felt different, noting that the lacquerware embodies the connections between the artisans who created it.
He hopes to continue developing interchangeable prosthetic covers, allowing people to choose designs that reflect their personal style.
