When organic chemist Takayuki Honda visited Okinawa Island in southern Japan a few years ago, he purchased a small dish coated with the glossy vermilion lacquer that’s characteristic of the region.

Lara praises lacquer’s ability to “bring out the wood ... Lacquers are particularly good choices for figurines, jewelry boxes ...

Following is a transcript of the video. Narrator: Sơn mài is a traditional Vietnamese form of lacquer painting created using a toxic lacquer harvested from one region of the country. It requires ...