Authentic Kintsugi Matcha bowl, White birch Nunobiki ware

Ref. AT0050

$600.00 USD

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*Import duties and taxes may apply.

One-of-a-kind

Food Safe

Certified Authentic

Product Description

<About Kintsugi Part>
After carefully joining the broken pieces using urushi (Japanese natural lacquer), finishing with the 24-karat gold powder by sprinkling to decorate the joined parts. In order to enhance the shape of the traditional Matcha bowl with the Kintsugi, the vessel is carefully polished with polishing powder putting on the fingers at last.

<About the Original Vessel>
1000 to 1200 years ago, from the Hakuho Period to the Heian period, around the Nunobiki Mountains in Shiga prefecture, unglazed pottery and green colored pottery was fired. The green colored glaze, made in imitation of Tang Dynasty pottery of ancient China is beautiful pottery. The pottery producing region on the east shore of Lake Biwa (next to Kyoto) prospered, but then pottery production ceased for over 1000 years.
In the 1970s, while groping for a new world of pottery, young ceramic artist Taro Kojima became enchanted with this green colored pottery and struggled to create a modern version of it. He developed a process for it, and developed a technique for creating a deep, transparent feeling using varied colors that transform in the kiln to create pictures.
The pottery was given the name Nanasai Tenmoku, and it had abundant colors that could express natural scenes such as plants and scenery in pictures that were ground breaking. Nunobiki ware opened up a world of new picture skills with the Nanasai Tenmoku technique.
Although this valuable Nunobiki ware has been broken by the earthquake, in order to avoid wasting the diligent efforts their craftsmen put into handmade piece, we decided to revive them as new Kintsugi pieces..

<Thoughts Behind the Piece>
This Matcha bowl is inspired by a lake and a tree by the lakeside. At first glance, it appears as if the branches and the Kintsugi line are like one piece, but we dared to apply Kintsugi like leaving the original natural scene. On the other side and inside of the vessel, on the contrary, we made the contrast of blue and gold stand out. Hope you will enjoy your tea time while imagining the nature of the lake.

Why don't you spend a mindful time with one-of-a-kind Kintsugi pottery?

May you feel the beauty of the imperfection of Kintsugi.

All materials we use are natural and do not have any risks of toxicity.

The piece comes with a paulownia box, including care advises and a certificate of origin and quality. 

Product Details

Size 
Ø120 H85mm / 280ml
Weight 
311g
Material 
Vessel: Pottery
Kintsugi portion: the 24k gold, natural Japanese lacquer
Production Days 2 months
Kintsugi Artist 
Nobuyasu Suginaka, Shiga JAPAN
Production area of vessel
Yokaichi city, Shiga JAPAN
Usage  Tableware (food-safe)

About vessel:

  • Type:
  • Origin:

Materials used:

Production time (in months):

Care & Food Safety

    • After use, wash the pieces using a soft sponge and foodsafe detergent.
    • Rinse them in lukewarm or cool water and completely dry them using a soft dish cloth.
    • Do not soak them in hot or cold water for long periods of time. This may cause the urushi or maki-e lacquer to peel or fracture.
    • The urushi (Japanese lacquer) may break or the maki-e lacquer decoration may peel off if the piece is dropped or if it collides with other hard objects. Please handle these pieces carefully.
    • Do not place these pieces in the microwave or dishwasher.

Safe for Everyday Use:
Restored with natural, non-toxic materials, our Kintsugi piece is safe for everyday use - no worries about leaks or harmful chemicals.

📦 Inside the Box

A traditional paulownia wood box (except for some flatware), with a Store Card, Care Instructions, and Certificate of Authenticity & Quality.

📱 See our packing on Instagram — @kintsugilabo

🚚 Worldwide Delivery
  • Ships in 2–3 business days via DHL Express (international, tracked) or Japan Post (domestic). Estimated transit to USA, UK, Canada, and Australia: 1–2 weeks, subject to local customs.
  • We ship to USA, UK, Canada, Australia, France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Malaysia, Ireland, Brazil, Spain, and Japan. Contact us for other destinations.
  • DHL does not deliver to PO Boxes.
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🛃 Duties & Taxes (DAP)

Our prices do not include import duties or taxes — these are set by your country's customs and are the buyer's responsibility. DHL will email you a secure payment link before delivery; once paid, your order is cleared and delivered.

  • 🇺🇸 U.S. customers: a 12.5% import duty applies (effective July 24, 2026, subject to U.S. policy).
  • 🎁 Gift orders: Duty notifications go to you (the buyer), not the recipient. If unpaid by the deadline, DHL may contact the recipient directly.
  • ⚠️ Unpaid duties may delay delivery or return the package; return shipping may be deducted from refunds.

Full Shipping & Customs Policy→

Gift-Ready Presentation
Paulownia Wood Box
Traditional paulownia wood gift box hand-stamped with The Kintsugi Labo JAPAN seal, made in Japan
Hand-stamped paulownia wood box, crafted in Japan — gift-ready.
Gift Message Card
Complimentary luxury gift message card enclosed with each kintsugi piece, front and reverse design
Add a personal note at checkout — enclosed inside the gift box.
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🛃 Shipping at a Glance

  • Shipped worldwide from Japan via DHL Express— shipping is complimentary.
  • All prices exclude duties & taxes.
  • U.S. Orders — 12.5% duty (subject to U.S. policy), billed by DHL before delivery.
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$600.00 USD

The Craft Behind the Beauty

Understanding the Art of Kintsugi

Urushi artist applying 24K gold powder by hand to the kintsugi seam of a sometsuke (blue-and-white) porcelain piece — The Kintsugi Labo JAPAN

Kintsugi (金継ぎ) — from kin (gold) and tsugi (to mend) — is the Japanese art of restoring broken pottery with natural urushi lacquer, adorned with powdered gold, silver, or colored urushi.

Though it's often called "golden joinery" in the West, the visible gold is only the finish — every kintsugi restoration is, fundamentally, an urushi lacquer technique. In Japan, kintsugi is understood as one expression within a broader tradition of urushi arts spanning thousands of years.

Rooted in wabi-sabi, it embraces imperfection and renewal — honoring a vessel's history rather than concealing it.

Read the full story on our Essence page

Urushi (漆) is natural sap harvested from the lacquer tree, used in Japanese craft for over 5,500 years. In kintsugi, urushi is the actual material that mends, fills, and seals every fracture — the gold or silver powder is decoration applied over it.

As urushi cures, it forms a remarkably strong film with properties no synthetic adhesive can replicate:

  • Strong adhesion — ensures durable restoration
  • Water resistance — protects against leaks
  • Chemical resistance — withstands acids, alkalis, salts, and alcohols
  • Thermal insulation — shields against heat
  • Natural antiseptic — resists bacteria and fungi

These qualities make every urushi-restored piece food-safe, leak-proof, and suited for daily use — not only display. As a renewable, biodegradable material, urushi also reflects the sustainable spirit of traditional Japanese craft.

Authentic kintsugi takes 4–5 months per piece, never shortened by synthetic substitutes. The process unfolds in three stages:

  1. Mending — Cracks, chips, or fractures are filled with urushi lacquer, blended with other natural materials when extra strength is needed.
  2. Layering — Restored areas are coated, dried, and polished across multiple cycles to build a smooth, durable base.
  3. Finishing — Metal powder is applied: pure gold most often, sometimes silver (gintsugi) or colored urushi (iro-urushitsugi), chosen to honor the original vessel.

Learn more about the kintsugi techniques

Kintsugi Is More Than Gold

Kintsugi is not defined by gold alone. The essence of the craft lies in the restoration process using natural urushi lacquer. Gold, silver, and colored urushi lacquers are simply different traditional finishes, each chosen to complement the vessel's character.
All are authentic expressions of kintsugi.

Finish on This Piece:

Three kintsugi finishes — gold (kintsugi), silver (gintsugi), and colored urushi (iro-urushitsugi)
Style Finishing Material Aesthetic & Philosophy
Kintsugi
金継ぎ
Pure 24K gold powder The classic finish — warm, luxurious, and rooted in history.
Gintsugi
銀継ぎ
Fine silver powder A cooler, contemporary register — serene and modern in feel.
Iro-Urushitsugi
色漆継ぎ
Colored urushi An expressive choice — vivid pigment harmonizing with the vessel's character.

Certificate of Authenticity

Authentic Japanese Kintsugi

Certificate of Authenticity and Quality included with a handmade Japanese kintsugi piece

Included with every piece at no extra cost

Your certificate documents the story and artistry behind your authentic Japanese kintsugi—so you can collect or give it with confidence.

  • Verified provenance: records the piece’s Japanese origin and identifying details.
  • Traditional materials: confirms natural urushi lacquer and the materials used in its restoration.
  • A heritage in paper: presented on Japanese washi—an art refined over 1,300 years—and finished with our original artisan seal.

A lasting record of authenticity for your one-of-a-kind expression of Japanese artistry.

What Our Collectors Say

Verified Kintsugi Reviews from Around the World

Thoughtfully Crafted with Sustainability in Every step

The Philosophy Behind Our Kintsugi

Traditional Craftsmanship

Restored with authentic urushi methods and natural materials, completely free from synthetic additives.

Thoughtful Sourcing

Each piece begins as an authentically broken Japanese ceramic sourced from our trusted partners.

Premium Packaging

Elegantly protected in a sustainable paulownia box and delivered with carbon-neutral transit.