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On the first morning of our urushi forestry and kintsugi program in Daigo, we ask for two things. Bring a pen and a notebook, and take your notes by hand. And please don't photograph the slides — we won't be handing out printouts either. For a room of people who mostly work through a screen: designers, engineers, people who make things by tablet and keyboard — this lands as a small inconvenience. Photographing a slide is faster, and it feels like a reliable way to keep some

This is Part 2 of our kintsugi kit discussions. Part 1 looked at what's actually inside a $100–$200 kit and what that money gets you elsewhere. This piece is the practical companion to it — focused on one question: when you are choosing what to buy, which material differences actually matter, and when? Traditional kintsugi is a Japanese lacquer repair technique using urushi lacquer, natural adhesives, mineral powders, and precious metals such as gold or silver. Unlike modern

If you've searched for "best urushi supplier" or "where to buy urushi lacquer," whether for kintsugi, lacquer craft projects, fountain pen finishing, or any other application, you've likely encountered YouTube videos and blog posts reviewing Japanese urushi suppliers as if they were art supply stores. This article discusses why that approach is misguided and how it may harm one of Japan's most fragile craft supply chains. Understanding the Urushi Ecosystem To grasp why this m

A story of a Hakata bentwood artisan in Fukuoka, and what a true craft experience in Japan can offer beyond making and taking.

Discover the truth about kintsugi kits – are you overpaying for basic tools? Unveil the value behind handmade spatulas and the art of kintsugi.

On microplastics in food containers, a documentary that arrived late; and a craft that never needed reassurance. Netflix’s Plastic Detox arrives at a moment when the word ‘microplastic’ has moved out of scientific journals and into everyday anxiety. It shows up in tap water. In the bloodstream. In human placentas. The documentary follows that thread with urgency, expanding outward into fast fashion, fast-moving consumer goods, and single-use packaging. Different industries,