Full-Day Traditional Kintsugi & Lacquer Art with a Master Artisan

Spend a full day at the home workshop of lacquer artisan Tsutomu Matsuda—a master with over 50 years of experience and a recipient of a national honor— and immerse yourself in the worlds of kintsugi and lacquer art. Using natural urushi lacquer with the workshop’s authentic tools and materials, you will also have the opportunity to co-create with Mr. Matsuda the lacquer art piece he conceived, Mori no Hibiki (“Echoes of the Forest”). Over a Kyoto-style bento lunch, enjoy a conversation with the artisan about his work and the ideas behind it, while sensing how craft fits into everyday life. This special day goes beyond sightseeing, offering a chance to actively create, repair, and carry the craft forward with your own hands.

Mr. Matsuda is a skilled master craftsman, well-versed in lacquer techniques used in traditional Japanese crafts. Friendly and personable, he possesses deep knowledge of lacquer and a wealth of experience, teaching not only Kintsugi but also a wide range of other Japanese crafts. He is also happy to show you his own works, including Buddhist altars and ritual articles, to help you gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture.

－Over 50 years of experience in the production of Buddhist altarware and other artifacts, winning numerous awards at competitions
－In 2004, he was certified as a traditional craftsman, a national qualification recognizing advanced skills and techniques in traditional crafts.
－In 2019, he was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Silver Rays

Under the artisan’s guidance, you will study the essentials of kintsugi using natural urushi lacquer through a mix of live demonstration and hands-on practice for selected steps. While kintsugi involves many processes, this program focuses on three key stages:

① Joining the broken pieces of a vessel
② Filling and rebuilding chipped or cracked areas
③ Coating with urushi and finishing with gold powder
Each stage is practiced on a different vessel, and the piece finished in step ③ is yours to take home.

In addition to kintsugi, you will co-create Mr. Matsuda’s lacquer work, Mori no Hibiki (“Echoes of the Forest”). By applying multiple layers of urushi to keyaki (Japanese zelkova) bark and polishing it to finish, the piece gains a quiet luster and depth. During the session, you will handle the initial and final steps, and take the completed piece home as a keepsake. Through the making process, you will not only learn the techniques of lacquerware, but also connect with its underlying spirit.

◎ Traditional Kintsugi experience (includes materials and vessels)
　∟ (Optional) Change to antique vessels
※ The completed work can be taken home.
◎ Lacquerware experience: Creation of Mori no Hibiki（Zelkova Plate）
※ The completed work can be taken home.
◎ Lunch（Traditional Bento Lunchbox）
◎ English interpretation

9:30 Gathering & Explanation of the Experience Flow
Introduction to Mr Matsuda's career, works, and a day in his workshop.

10:00 Explanation about Lacquerware, Lacquer, and the Spirit of Kintsugi Introduction to the tools used by the craftsman.
Lacquerware Making: Creation of Mori no Hibiki (“Echoes of the Forest”)
Experience the initial and final steps of the process using lacquer.
(*You can take it home as a souvenir.)

12:00 Lunch Break – Bento Lunchbox from a Traditional Japanese Restaurant
Enjoy a meal with the craftsman.

13:00 Start of the Traditional Kintsugi Experience
With lacquer, you will repair a piece of pottery using traditional methods.
Bond the broken fragments of the vessel.
Repair missing or cracked sections.
Apply lacquer to the repaired areas and add gold.

17:00 End of the Experience
You can take home the Kintsugi-repaired vessel and the Mori no Hibiki lacquer art as souvenirs.

・Please book at least 2 business days before the experience.(Office hours: weekdays 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.)
・Your reservation will be confirmed once the payment has been received.
・Applicants must be at least 18 years old to apply. Minors must obtain the consent of a parent or guardian before applying.
・The experience may be cancelled or postponed at short notice, or the content may be changed due to traffic conditions, etc.
・The experience may be filmed and posted on social networking sites or used in articles.
・We may share your responses to surveys and reviews on our social networking sites and in the media.

・Free of charge if cancelled up to 3 days before the workshop; 100% if cancelled within 2 days (including the day before and the day of the workshop).
・Special Cases (Natural disaster, virus, etc.): Full refund
・Transaction fees for refunds in the event of cancellation will be borne by the customer.