Kintsugi Workshop

If you have a broken pottery or ceramic that you just can’t get rid of or want to keep,

repair it and keep using.

Add Kintsugi into your daily life.

WHO WE ARE

Welcome to Kintsugi Kurashi website. We are based in Tokyo and surrounding cities propagating Kintsugi art and techniques.

Our activities vary from teaching to repair services. We provide Kintsugi lessons and workshops at our schools and at remote sites for our clients.

We take repair services for broken ceramics, porcelain, and glass using Kintsugi techniques and we have repaired over 1,000 items since we started our business.

We also provide lectures on Kintsugi, work with media, and support fellow artisans.

Our motto is “cherish vessels with fond memories”. The name, Kintsugi Kurashi, comes from our philosophy to bring Kintsugi into the daily life, or “Kurashi” in Japanese.

Join us at our workshop if you are interested in learning Kintsugi. We take pride in teaching it with instructions easy to understand and making sure that everyone enjoys the process.

What is Kintsugi?

Kintsugi (Golden joinery), also known as Kintsukuroi (Golden repair), is a traditional Japanese art and technique of fixing broken objects such as ceramic potteries and glass by adhering the broken pieces together.

In the old days, they used natural Urushi lacquer for all the process. These days, there are a variety of Kintsugi methods not just the traditional method to use.

• Adhere with synthetic resin such as epoxy, then finish with gold paint.
• Adhere with synthetic resin and apply lacquer and finishing gold powder.
• Traditional method of using natural resin from lacquer tree.

Traditional method takes more than one month to complete as there are several processes and time to dry is necessary before the next process can be started. The processes require careful handling as the natural resin from lacquer tree contains an allergenic irritant which can cause skin rash similar to poison ivy or poison oak.

Why You Should Choose Kintsugi Kurashi

1. Our materials meet the legal requirements of Food Sanitation Act standards.

• There are number of other Kintsugi groups that use synthetic materials which are not safe to use for tableware.
• For our Eazy Kintsugi workshops, we use synthetic materials which meet the legal requirements of Food Sanitation Act standards.

2. Experienced instructors

• Our instructors all have experienced instructing in TV drama series, hosting large corporate workshops, and receiving interviews by the domestic and international media.
  They have also supervised publications on Kintsugi accessories (see link in Japanese: 本の監修).
  Number of our participants are first-time beginners, and they are all educated well through those trusted instructors.

3. Accessible locations

• Our locations are close to stations such as Jiyugaoka, Roppongi , Fuchu and Omiya (all around 5-7 minutes on foot).

Available Courses

Kintsugi Kurashi offers 2 courses. You can choose whichever is suitable for your interests.

1. Easy Kintsugi workshop

• You will learn non-traditional Kintsugi method using synthetic lacquer safe for tableware, i.e., plates and bowls
• No risk of getting skin rash
• 1 session to complete the course
• Half-day (about 2 hours)
• Fee: JPY8,000 per workshop
• English Translator available. Translator’s fees: JPY30,000 per group
• Chinese speaking translator is available at Roppongi class on Tuesdays
• If you don’t have a broken object, you may purchase a bowl for JPY300

2. Hon-Urushi (natural lacquer) Course

• You will learn the traditional method using natural resin from lacquer tree
• This course requires 4 sessions to complete
• It takes about a week to dry lacquer at each process
• Fee: JPY80,000 (= JPY20,000 x 4 sessions)
• Each session is around 2 hours
• Tools and materials are provided by Kintsugi Kurashi

English Translator is available. Translator’s fees: JPY 120,000 (=JPY30,000 per group x 4)

Flexible course schedule can be possible. Please email us and let us know what you need.

Schools

Jiyugaoka School: (Hon-Urushi Course is available at Jiyugaoka School only)

Roppongi Hills School at g KEYAKIZAKA:

Fuchu School:

Omiya School:

History of Kintsugi

Kintsugi became closely associated with ceramic bowls and porrey used for Chanoyu, or Japanese tea ceremony, for its philosophy of wabi-sabi and compassionate sensitivity is quite similar to the philosophy of Kintsugi.

It is also said that Kintsugi may originate when Japanese shogun, Yoshimasa Ashikaga sent a damaged Chinese tea bowl back to China for repairs in the late 15th century. When it was returned, repaired with metal staples, it urged Japanese artisans to search for and come up with a more aesthetically pleasing ways of repair.

In the late 16th century, Japanese tea ceremony Master Sen no Rikyū, who codified the way of tea, said to be the one who acknowledged Kintsugi and caused the art to be wide spread. Back then, repaired ceramic bowls and pottary are considered to have special value as they are “brought back to life”.

Frequently Asked Questions

Could we use the repaired ceramics as tableware?

Yes. All the tools and materials we provide at our workshops meet the legal requirements of Food Sanitation Act standards. Reference in Japanese: 『厚生省告示第370号』 You may enjoy using the repaired ceramics for food plating.

Could I join your workshop alone?

Of course. Many of our participants join us individually.

May I bring two tablewares that I want to repair?

Yes. If it seems possible to repair within the two hours, you may bring as many as you want and no additional fee will be charged.

May I bring two or more tablewares to repair?

Yes, you may bring multiple tablewares to repair within the workshop period at no additional charge.

Could I repair glass?

It is possible but it is considerably harder than repairing ceramics or porceline. Please send an email to us and attach images of the glass you want to repair before the day of the workshop.

I have so many ceramics I want to repair. May I join workshops as many times as I want?

You can sign up to our workshops as many times as you wish. We will support you the best we can so you can mend all the items you wish to repair.

What happens if the ceramic is broken up to pieces and seems impossible to repair within two hours during the workshop?

If the item is broken so badly, it is possible that it can’t be fixed within two hours of the workshop. If you are concerned, please send an email to us and attach images of the item you want to repair before the day of the workshop. We will let you know the estimated duration it may take to repair. If you decide to join the workshop, please add the information on the notes section of our RSVP form.

Are the workshop instructors all professionals?

There is no permit or license to Kintsugi practitioners, however, our instructors all have experienced repairing a number of items. They also have instructed in TV programs and received media interviews.

What can I learn from your Beginner’s Kintsugi workshop?

You will learn how to repair ceramics, pottery and glass using lacquer and gold.

Is the workshop available in English?

We have instruction materials available in English. English Translator is available for JPY30,000 per group per session. Chinese translator is available at Roppongi Hills School on Tuesdays.

How long is the workshop?

It is about 2 hours to repair 1-2 pieces.

How much is the workshop?

It is JPY8,000 and can be paid by cash and credit card.

Do I need to bring a broken piece to repair?

You are welcome to bring your own. Depending on the damage and the material, you may not be able to repair it within 2 hours during the workshop. In that case, or if you don’t have a piece of your own to repair, you may choose from a selection of ceramics at an additional cost of JPY300 per item.

What do I need to bring to the workshop?

Please bring; a paper bag or box (avoid soft materials) large enough to take your Kintsugi piece in. Urushi at the end of the workshop is yet to dry completely. We will help to arrange your piece in your bag / box so it will continue to dry after you leave the workshop.
something to drink (stay hydrated!)
glasses or eyewear as needed