A Kintsugi-restored Oribe matcha bowl displayed with chasen and tea ceremony tools in a Japanese tea room, with a garden view beyond the shoji screens.

The Ancient Japanese Aesthetic of Sustainable Upcycling

Kintsugi

Urushi Lacquer & Kintsugi Art by Japanese Artists

“Nothing is more hallowing than the union of kindred spirits in art.”

— Kakuzō Okakura, The Book of Tea (1906)

The Kintsugi Labo JAPAN brings you the sustainable world view that is not “good as new”, but “better than new”.
Our Kintsugi is a Contemporary Art that reconnects a world that has been divided.

A curated collection of approximately thirteen exquisite Kintsugi masterpieces, artfully displayed in a row on a vibrant red felt cloth over traditional tatami mats. Each piece showcases the unique beauty of imperfections repaired with urushi lacquer and decorated gold powder or other powdered metals, representing the timeless Japanese art of Kintsugi.

Embrace Timeless Japanese Beauty

What's Kintsugi

"金継ぎ" Kintsugi is a unique Japanese technique in which broken vessels are repaired using urushi(Japanese lacquer).In Japan, imperfections such as cracks and stains on vessels are considered to create value. The typical way of thinking is that broken vessels must be discarded. However, we believe upcycling gives new life to such vessels and enriches the lives of those who use them. By reviving the spirit of the craftsman, who has poured his or her time into the piece, the vessels can be upcycled rather than being thrown away.This is what modern, sustainable luxury is all about. We hope that you, too, see the beauty in Kintsugi, a practice which conveys the Japanese spirit.

What Sets Our Kintsugi Apart

Rooted in Nature

Crafted using traditional, natural urushi lacquer rooted in Japan's ancient heritage.

Ethical Sourcing

We breathe new life into authentically broken pieces sourced from our trusted partners.

Eco-Friendly Delivery

Shipped in renewable paulownia wooden boxes via DHL's carbon-neutral GoGreen service.

200+ Authentic Japanese Kintsugi Pieces Delivered to Collectors in 15+ Countries

Honest Kintsugi Reviews From Collectors Worldwide

Meet the Artists Behind the Pieces

Urushi & Kintsugi Artists

Each of our Kintsugi pieces is created by professional lacquer artists with a deep mastery of traditional Japanese urushi techniques.

Urushi Lacquer Artist Holding Nature’s Stillness

Keiko Hata

Urushi Lacquer Artist With Pictorial Expressions

Maki Mizuno

Urushi Lacquer Artist Coating Margin into Value

Rio Hashimoto

Urushi Lacquer Artist Reflecting Memory and Refuge

Saki Moriyama

Exceptionally Skilled Urushi Lacquer Artisan

Nobuyasu Suginaka

Nationally Certified Urushi Master of Sacred Restoration

Seisaku Nakajima

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Where Urushi Becomes Art

Contemporary Urushi Art

The same natural lacquer used for kintsugi restoration has been used to create fine art in Japan for centuries. 

Our artists create each piece by applying countless layers of urushi, which gives the work depth and texture that changes with the light and matures over time. For collectors drawn to the philosophy of kintsugi, urushi art is the next discovery.

A Beautiful Foolishness

"Let us dream of evanescence, and linger in the beautiful foolishness of things."
— Kakuzō Okakura, The Book of Tea (1906)

Restoring a broken piece of pottery through traditional kintsugi takes months. Natural urushi lacquer — the sap of the lacquer tree — is applied in many thin layers, each one waiting patiently for the last to cure. Only then is the final seam completed with gold.
By any practical measure, this process is foolish. Yet within those unhurried hours, something more enduring is created.

Each piece quietly carries that time within it.