Repair cracked pottery using authentic urushi lacquer to create dazzling masterpieces
2 hour private experience
Location: Kagoshima City
Offered in Japanese, with a friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in your language
A minimum of 2 guests is required to book. Solo participants are welcome but will be charged the 2-person rate
Meet the Master
What you’ll do
With instruction from a kintsugi artisan, complete the final stages of kintsugi made with genuine urushi lacquer. Learn more about the history of kintsugi and the complex processes of repairing using urushi lacquer. As your pottery sets, enjoy tea and snacks prepared especially for you.
Who can attend
Children must be 10+
Availability
Everyday
Session 1 (09:30 - 11:30)
Unavailable in August.
Access
15 minutes by car from Kagoshima Station
Creations from Cracks
Popular legend dates the art of kintsugi all the way back to the 15th century, when the Ashikaga Shogun sent a treasured, broken bowl for China to repair only for it to return fixed with plain metal staples. Disappointed with the simple presentation, artisans rushed to develop a new, more elevated method of fixing broken items - and so kintsugi was born. Whether or not the exact origins of kintsugi began here, it has since then become intertwined with countless Japanese philosophies and aesthetic principles, from tea ceremony to samurai society. Rooted in the principles of mottainai—the value of preserving what is still usable—and wabi-sabi, which embraces imperfection and impermanence, kintsugi acts to add new beauty to broken work, passing it for future generations to cherish. In this introductory kintsugi workshop, join a lifelong Kagoshima kintsugi artisan in using 100% real lacquer to repair a cracked piece of pottery. Due to the months-long lacquer drying process, the first stages of work have already been completed by the master. Under her careful instruction, complete the final stage of affixing gold to the sealed item while learning more about the complex techniques required to complete kintsugi, from start to finish, in a beautifully designed gallery space overlooking Kagoshima's scenery.
Cancellation Policy
Please make your booking at least 14 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.
A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.
