Vase with chrysanthemums and sakura, Japan, made in the cloisonné technique. White metal, enamel, there is a stamp. Japan, 20th century.The history of Japanese cloisonné enamel (Yusen - sippo) began in the era when Japan was isolated from the world for its own interests, two centuries (1650-1850), and during these two centuries the Hirata family produced items decorated with cloisonné enamel, creating small decorative panels, mirrors and decor for furniture. Since 1854, Japan agreed to modernize and participate in international trade, becoming an important trading partner for the world community. Emperor Meiji actively supported the efforts of proud Japanese artisans and entrepreneurs to enter the world market. Japan's participation in the exhibition in Paris in 1867 showed the world a real success: there were mixed works (metal, lacquer, woodcuts, etc.) as well as traditional ones. A new Japanese center for the production of cloisonné enamel works was formed in the Nagoya area. The first attempts to make cloisonné enamels were made by the samurai Kaji T. and they were copies of Chinese Ming ware. By the 1850s, Kaji and his son Kaji S. helped to promote Japanese cloisonné to a level of national interest. The village of Toshima near Nagoya was eventually named SHIPPO-MURA (or cloisonné enamel village), where the cloisonné enamel industry began in 1855 with the mass production of small cloisonné pieces made in a few workshops. Some of these cloisonné pieces are the dark matte enamel pieces we often see, with hand-applied cloisonné patterns and no markings. They continued production until 1905 or so, varying their products, absorbing some of the innovations that were being invented by master artisans in Nagoya, Kyoto and Tokyo.