One of the coolest things I did this year was take a kintsugi class at Kuge Crafts. Where broken pieces of pottery or lacquerware are put back together with lacquer and then painted with metallic powder. We used gold powder. The Kuges use lacquer from cashew nut trees.

The sensei for the class is the sweet Kuge couple, Yoshiichiro san and Yoshiko san, in their atelier. The Kuges speak English and are lovely hosts. This is my second kintsugi class and I learned much more in this class. On this day it was just two students.

Over the years I have set aside dishes, many simply chipped, hoping that I could bring them back to the dining table if fixed by kintsugi. I brought my dishes to the workshop and worked on one item. The rest I left with the Kuges who did a fantastic job fixing these. In particular check out the gorgeous kintsugi on the lacquerware. The design they put on the kintsugi.

For visitors to Japan the Kuges have a selection of chipped items that students can use for the lesson. There is also a selection of kintsugi items that are for sale.

If you’re coming to Tokyo and are interested in arts, crafts, or pottery, I highly recommend this class. It’s popular, with both locals and tourists, so be sure to reach out as soon as you can.

The pieces that the Kuges have repaired for me are now home and bring so much joy. During our class a few people stopped by to pick up pieces they had left to be fixed. It was so much fun to see their faces when they saw their pottery repaired by kintsugi. I too could not stop smiling when I brought my pieces home.

I love this kintsugi concept. Repairing pieces to give them a second life. Highlighting where it was broken or chipped, and making it a piece of art.

https://www.teshigotoya-kuge.com/

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