The artisan applies pigments to the back side of a pattern sheet, tracing a draft sketch that has already been drawn on the front side. The sheet is then pressed onto the lacquerware, with the pigments transferred by the artisan, who rubs brush bristles over the pattern. Simpler patterns may eliminate the stage of the intermediate draft sketch, with the artisan instead carving the pattern directly onto the lacquerware from scratch, without the use of a pattern sheet.

First, the artisan carves the general outline of the pattern onto the wood, after which the finer lines and patterns are engraved. To engrave the patterns, the artisans skillfully use various carving instruments that they have designed themselves, each featuring a unique thickness, depending on whether they are used for drawing lines or lettering, for example, or used on flat surfaces.

Urushi is embedded as an adhesive within the grooves engraved onto the piece, into which gold leaf is firmly set. The gold leaf is embedded and filled in by the pressing of a cotton ball. Besides gold leaf, gold dust can be used to produce a matte sheen, as well as pigments, such as white or red, for added accent.

Once the urushi has dried and the gold leaf or dust has been properly set, traditional Japanese washi paper is used to wipe off any excess gold, after which the product is completed.