DISCOVER JAPANESE AESTHETICS WITH MODERN KINTSUGI

Learn about the method of pottery mending that found its way into Japanese tea ceremony as well as the hearts of people around the world.

Kintsugi is the exquisite Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with urushi lacquer combined with gold powder. Originating during the Azuchi-Momoyama period in the late 16th century—when the Japanese tea ceremony was flourishing—kintsugi embraces the philosophy of wabi-sabi, which honors imperfection and impermanence. Tea bowls, valued for their natural textures and asymmetry, were too precious to discard when broken. Instead, kintsugi transforms cracks into shimmering golden veins, giving the piece renewed life and a unique beauty.

“Methods of repair typically aim to avoid drawing attention to the broken part, however the process of deliberately highlighting the crack as something to be enjoyed was incorporated into and popularized by Japanese tea culture,” explained modern kintsugi artist, Tomomi Kamoshita.

In recent years, kintsugi has gained worldwide acclaim not only for its striking aesthetics but also for its symbolic message of resilience and healing. The golden seams serve as a metaphor for embracing flaws as marks of strength and transformation.

About the Experience

We have prepared the special opportunity to test your creativity and create your own one-of-a-kind work of modern kintsugi with the help of an internationally acclaimed ceramic/kintsugi artist whose works have been exhibited throughout Japan as well as in New York and Paris.

Traditional kintsugi involves the utilization of urushi lacquer, a substance which is highly poisonous to the touch, and requires numerous processes that can take a few months to complete.

However, for this experience the artisan will introduce you to a simplified version of modern kintsugi, where you will be able to create your original chopstick rest. The process will utilize a substitute adhesive that dries much faster and doesn’t result in adverse skin reactions when touched. To finish your work, you will apply a brass powder mixture that will complete your work.

※ An online meet-up experience with the artisan can be arranged upon request.

Experience includes:Private Kintsugi experience, your own kintsugi artwork
Duration:2 hours (can be adjusted upon request)
Location:Tokyo (in your hotel room or another venue)
Price:Please contact us to inquire about pricing
Max #  of people:up to 8

Recommended for people who…

● would like to discover more about Japanese aesthetics and artwork
● wish to learn about kintsugi directly from a master of the art
● enjoy working with their fingers and are interested in fine, detail-oriented crafts