The Art of the Golden Seam

Just a few steps from the bustling streets of Omotesando, in the quiet district of Minami-Aoyama, lies the workshop of ceramic artist Taku Nakano—a space where studio and private gallery exist as one. Here, among works inspired by the cosmos and experiments with clay, glaze, gold, and lacquer, the artist’s unique vision of beauty and time is born.

Without mentors and having mastered the art of kintsugi on his own, Nakano has restored countless vessels over the years, gradually developing his own approach. The result is an original restoration method called “Okunodoi”—named after his family’s ancestral home on Awaji Island.

Unlike traditional masters who use brushes and polishing powders and may work on a single piece for months, Nakano turns to ceramic clay, diamond tools, and his own senses—sight, hearing, and touch. For him, the vessel itself remains paramount, while the golden lines delicately accentuate its form and history. The traces of time are not concealed but become part of its beauty, preserving the spirit of Japanese wabi-sabi aesthetics.

The artist pays special attention to the finest cracks and crazing, which are colored with cinnabar lacquer and filled with pure gold. Without unnecessary decoration or effect, he gently restores the object’s integrity, allowing it to once again take its place in daily life.

For the duration of your experience, the workshop is entirely yours. Dressed in traditional samue workwear, you will spend several hours alongside the master, working on a single vessel and gradually immersing yourself in the philosophy of kintsugi. This is not merely a craft lesson, but a rare opportunity to embrace the Japanese perspective on beauty, where imperfection and the marks of time are valued as much as perfection itself.

In spring 2024, the master’s work was recognized by the Emperor of Japan with the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon. Today, guests from around the world visit his workshop to discover an art that transforms cracks not into flaws, but into a precious part of an object’s history.