About Us

We are Japanese Kintsugi Ambassadors!

Our Founding Story

Reviving Valuable Japanese Vessels with Kintsugi - "From Discarded to Timeless Beauty"

We have learned that here in Japan, a large number of unsaleable and valuable vessels are discarded due to defects such as cracks or chips during production or accidental drops, or because their owners have passed away and have no place to go.

We launched this business in 2020 with the hope of realizing sustainable art by reviving the time and thoughts of the craftsmen who worked on these vessels using "Kintsugi", the ancient Japanese urushi repair method.

Essentially, Kintsugi is the reuse of a broken vessel after it has been repaired by the owner or craftsman, so Kintsugi pieces have not been widely distributed.

We heard from a designer friend of ours that he had been receiving inquiries from people overseas asking where they could purchase Kintsugi pieces in Japan, so we decided to start this online store so that people overseas could pick up Kintsugi pieces created by Japanese lacquer artists using the traditional Kintsugi technique and learn more about the beauty of authentic Japanese Kintsugi.

Our Kintsugi Philosophy

The Ancient Japanese Aesthetic of Taking Care of Things

Kintsugi is a traditional Japanese technique of repairing broken or chipped vessels with urushi and decorating the jointed parts with gold or other metal powders.

In other words, Kintsugi embodies the spirit of taking good care of things.

In keeping with such a beautiful spirit of Kintsugi, we NEVER intentionally break brand-new vessels to create Kintsugi pieces, but rather collect and artfully upcycle the valuable vessels that have some flaws in the production process or that have cracks or chips from potters, ceramic wholesalers, or antique shops throughout Japan.

Our Milestones

Overcoming the Difficulty of Collecting Broken Vessels for Kintsugi

When we started this business, when we actually visited pottery and porcelain production areas and antique stores in Japan to stock up on vessels that were supposed to be discarded, we learned that although these people are aware of the problem of being discarded in this way, the reality is that they are unable to take any concrete action to solve it.

Some of the artists and potters we offered to buy pieces with cracks and chips did not want to share their unwilling works with the world, so collecting broken vessels for Kintsugi was the most difficult part for us.

However the number of collaborators who agreed with our kintsugi philosophy and allowed us to stock up on vessels that should have been discarded is gradually increasing.

After such a journey to find the broken vessels, we finally managed to collect more than 200 pieces, thanks to our collaborators.

Our Kintsugi Hope

Bring Peace to the World through Kintsugi!

By using Kintsugi as a "Vessel of Thought" to reunite people and the world that have been divided and hurt, and by spreading the good old sustainable art of Japan to the world, we hope to realize world peace. We believe Kintsugi has the power to change the world!

The Kintsugi Artwork "KAKEHASHI" donated to a museum in Ecuador to symbolize the friendship between Ecuador and Japan.

Who We Are

Team "The Kintsugi Labo JAPAN"

Kintsugi Artist

Nobuyasu Suginaka

Mr. Suginaka is a lacquer&kintsugi artist who has an urushi workshop called "SOWEIDO" in Nagahama City in the northern part of Shiga Prefecture, next to Kyoto JAPAN. He is a master urushi artisan who uses not only kintsugi, but also various techniques such as lacquering, foil stamping, and maki-e, and is known for his beautiful finishes.

He specializes in "kawaritsugi," an original kintsugi technique. "Kawaritsugi" technique is a variation of the kintsugi technique, that has been developed into an art form and can be used in combination with various colors, patterns, and materials beyond gold.

He is focusing on applying kintsugi without using petroleum-based materials such as chemical glue, but only plant-based materials. Although it takes a long time to complete a piece, he creates his kintsugi works with a focus on the traditional and authentic kintsugi method, that has been handed down in Japan since ancient times and is now rare.His wife is also a member of the team and advising and supporting his work.

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Kintsugi Couple

Isono Revitalizing Office, LLC.

Isono Revitalizing Office LLC., run by a Kintsugi couple, Ken and Michie, is a Japanese management consulting firm specializing in the arts & crafts, with the concept of "Revitalizing Local People & Businesses!

We first met Mr. Suginaka in his capacity as a management consultant, but as we talked with him, we became fascinated with the beauty of Kintsugi. Today, we are his apprentices, and while we are being trained in lacquer ware and Kintsugi, we are also working together on this new Kintsugi business.

It is very difficult for an artisan to expand his business overseas alone, and it is necessary to build a team to overcome various obstacles such as language, branding, trade, and logistics.

We hope that more people will join us in our endeavor and connect with people around the world through Kintsugi!

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Kintsugi Advisor

Yosuke Inui

Mr. Yosuke Inui, a designer with a deep knowledge of branding in the field of art, helps us with the design of our brand logo and shop cards, as well as providing advice about Kintsugi.

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