九州特集

Kintsugi: The Art of Repairing Broken Pottery

The art of Kintsugi draws a lot of attention in not only in Japan, but around the world as well. Kintsugi is a Japanese traditional technique that mends broken ceramic pieces with lacquer and powdered gold or silver, and is a great way to recycle your precious ceramics. Kintsugi represents the ‘mottainai’ philosophy, which is a combined feeling of regret and consideration – rather than wastefulness – for all material objects. Kintsugi also adheres to a ‘wabi-sabi’ sense of aesthetics by appreciating the imperfect beauty of broken pottery. These uniquely Japanese cultural aspects have given Kintsugi a kind of cult popularity. How Do People Use Kintsugi/Kintsukuroi? Kintsugi (金継ぎ, “golden joinery”) or kintsukuroi (金繕い, “golden repair”) is meant to mend broken pottery and bring it to new life with carefully managed procedures. Some craftsmen work to repair national treasure vessels, while others may simply focus on fixing broken coffee mugs at home. Kintsugi pottery repair kit Kintsugi earrings Kintsugi-inspired philosophy book While kintsugi requires time and effort, the results can bring joy and a new appreciation to those who hold their one-of-a-kind vessels dear. Kintsugi lessons and workshops are becoming very popular in Japan, and as the techniques are exported worldwide, they continue to gain attention as ‘Kintsugi Art’. The Development of the Kintsugi Craft Kintsugi is a centuries-old Japanese tradition of repairing broken ceramics with a special tree sap lacquer. It uses gold powder or other metal pigments to enliven the surface. This technique of rejoining pieces with lacquer seems to have been practiced since the ancient Jomon era, as many ritual vessels have been found in archaeological sites. However, the method of adding a gold decorative finish is believed to have begun during the Muromachi era when the tea ceremony became popular. The tea ceremony, or ‘chanoyu’, first codified by Sen no Rikyu, was then spread throughout Japan by sengoku daimyo (feudal warlords) and wealthy merchants. One of the most powerful daimyo, Oda Nobunaga, rewarded his vassals with tea bowls and utensils in return for their loyalty in battle. The kintsugi technique was most likely developed based on how these vassals maintained and repaired their precious gifts from this famous warlord. Books About Kintsugi Relaxing Kintsugi Art at Home The author, who is a manga artist as well as a lacquer craftsman, introduces kintsugi techniques in an easy manner for beginners, including pictures and some fine illustrations. Rakuten Store The First Kintsugi This book explains the technical details and processes of kintsugi art, especially the ones that beginners often struggle with or fail to achieve. Rakuten Store An Introduction to Kintsugi from Zero A great book for beginners, this book details a method in which only real lacquer is used, without any chemical adhesives. Rakuten Store Wabi-sabi and the Philosophy of Kintsugi Kintsugi continues to have a significant impact on the Japanese mind because it is linked strongly with wabi-sabi philosophy. Wabi means imperfect, and sabi refers to a deterioration or change of quality over time. As pottery is delicate and can be broken at any moment, we feel it has a fleeting, momentary existence. But the art of kintsugi can revive these ceramic works, giving them new beauty and value. The accidental cracks and chips that occur in broken ceramic pieces cannot be mended to look like the original item. Kintsugi can often bring out a new charm in a piece and render the shimmering veins with a more valuable appearance than the originals. The Japanese aesthetic spirit utilizes kintsugi as a way to renew the beauty of a broken object rather than discarding it as imperfect or damaged. The Sengoku Daimyo’s Beloved National Treasure Tea Bowl Important Cultural Property Ido Chawan ‘Tsutsuizutsu’ Private Collection, Kanazawa City This is an interesting story involving a tea bowl and kintsugi. The famous sengoku daimyo, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, cherished his Korean tea bowl (ido chawan) as an heirloom, but one day his servant broke it accidentally. Another daimyo, the excellent poet Hosokawa Yusai, happened to be in the room when this happened and read this satirical poem below, which calmed down a furious Hideyoshi. Tsutsuizutsu,five broken pieces ofIdo chawanlet the blame fall on me This broken ido chawan was later repaired with Kijiro lacquer. This is a finish without gold powder which creates an indescribable wabi-sabi aesthetic. What Can Be Fixed With Kintsugi? Unfortunately, not all broken pottery can be repaired with kintsugi. Since lacquer will be applied, it is difficult to use with vessels that hold liquid for a long time, or ones that are put directly on a gas flame or steamed like a tea pot. Some other types of ceramics can be repaired using kintsugi techniques, though with varying difficulty. Ceramic Vessels and Plates These are the most popular items for kintsugi work, from expensive antique items to daily use plates. Shiny gold lines add a modern impression onto white Japanese porcelain. Kintsugi applied to western antiques can add an oriental flavor. Glass https://buyee.jp/mercari/item/m91384110589 https://www.nhk-cul.co.jp/programs/program_866418.html Cracked antique glass bottles and perfume cases can be reborn with the kintsugi technique. Some people fix even high-quality glassware like Baccarat Crystal. Jewelry Some jewelers consider kintsugi in aspects of their designs, resulting in some very unique jewelry. Vases The vase featured in this image has a more subdued design, but vases with delicately crafted decorations can also be reliably repaired with kintsugi. Cups https://www.mercari.com/jp/items/m55476452179/ Everything from your precious commemorative cups to your favorite everyday coffee cups can be enjoyably transformed with kintsugi. Let’s Try Out Kintsugi! Kintsugi is a traditional technique, but even beginners can try it. The benefit of kintsugi is that you can not only repair a piece of pottery, but also give it a new beauty. You can use your artistic sense to the fullest! The Kintsugi Process The general procedure is the following, although details may vary according to the type of pottery to be repaired. Broken Pottery Kintsugi Carefully assemble the broken pieces Fill any cracks or gaps with putty Apply lacquer Sprinkle the gold powder onto the lacquer Compact Kintsugi Set on Rakuten Basic Materials for Kintsugi ・Polishing powder・Wooden powder・Metal powder (e.g. gold powder)・Urushi lacquer (or synthetic lacquer)・Several small spatulas (for spreading, kneading, and filling)・Soft small brush・Exacto knife・alcohol, water resistant paper, measuring spoons, gloves etc. Get Started with a Kintsugi Kit! It is recommended that beginners prepare a set with the minimum amount of necessary tools rather than collecting the individual tools at the outset. Once you get used to it, you can purchase more tools and more gold powder. The Buyee proxy service will bid and pay for the beginner’s kintsugi kit and its items on your behalf and ship to your address overseas. Give kintsugi a try, and learn about a profoundly Japanese tradition! Recommendations for Beginners Kintsugi Beginner’s Set This beginner’s set uses real and innovative techniques and is produced by a lacquer shop established 150 years ago. Anyone can start right away by referring to the detailed picture instructions. JDirectItems Shopping Tableware Kintsugi/Gintsugi Set for Beginners This set is suitable for tableware using genuine gold powder, genuine silver powder, urushi lacquer and other natural materials. This set contains an easy instruction format, full of color pictures and YouTube videos in Japanese and English for worldwide beginner craftspeople. Mr. Shibata Katsuya with over 30 years of professional experience supervised this product. JDirectItems Shopping Authentic Kintsugi Set This high quality kintsugi set from Tokyu Hands comes with powders and other materials to help you kick-start your own work. JDirectItems Shopping Kintsugi Materials Koneko Powders Here you can purchase gold and silver powder for kintsugi and makie (Japanese lacquer ware) as well as pigments for Japanese paintings and mica mixed with glutinous glue. JDirectItems Shopping 0.1g No. 4 Color Gold Super Fine Powder This gold powder is very fine and spreads easily. Rakuten Store 5 Grams Japan-Produced Easy-to-use Lacquer You can get raw Japanese lacquer in a one-time-use size. Rakuten Store 10 Grams Tokyu Hands Easy MR Black Lacquer This manicure type bottle makes application easy. Rakuten Store Bamboo Tweezers These fine tweezers are very convenient for the creation of more detailed works. Rakuten Store Small Makie Round Brush with Black Stem This brush is specially made for makie craftsmen. Rakuten Store The post Kintsugi: The Art of Repairing Broken Pottery first appeared on Buyee Blog.

2024-12-12 07:10

All About Japanese Ukiyo-e Art!

What springs to mind when you think of Japanese ukiyo-e paintings? The famous image of huge, powerful waves crashing against Mt. Fuji? Kabuki actors captured in expressive poses? Perhaps you think more of the images of traditional Japanese spirits, skeletons, or other more shocking or explicit ukiyo-e subjects (and there are lots of these too!)? The art of ukiyo-e seems to include a great many concepts and themes, and there are countless famous artists who have made their mark with this style. This article will give you all the details on the world of ukiyo-e art! What Does Ukiyo-e Mean? The culture of ukiyo-e art truly flourished in the latter half of the 17th century, during Japan’s Edo period. Before then, paintings had been enjoyed only by the upper class, but with the birth of ukiyo-e, this pastime became something available to the common people as well. Ukiyo-e has gone on to become an influential, enriching part of Japanese culture and entertainment. In ancient times, the Japanese took the word ‘ukiyo’ to mean a painful and dangerous world, with an origin in Buddhist philosophy. However, in the 17th century, the Chinese kanji character used in the word ‘ukiyo’ changed, and with it, the meaning that the people attached to the word. The new character changed the definition to ‘floating world’. The idea behind this change is that people thought it was best to live life as if you were floating through it, because life was short in those days, and the world itself was seen as almost transitory. By attaching the word ‘e’, or drawing/painting, the word ukiyo-e was born. Ukiyo-e are made from woodblock prints, unlike traditional paintings. This cheaper method of production allowed them to be mass-produced and sold in large quantities at a low price. Famous Ukiyo-e Artists Ukiyo-e is a form of art that is familiar to the average person. Various interesting ukiyo-e works were created, reflecting the trends and interests at their times. Here is an introduction to the ukiyo-e artists that you need to know! Katsushika Hokusai Possibly the most famous ukiyo-e artist and creator of the Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji series, which includes the globally renowned The Great Wave off Kanagawa. See More on Rakuten Store See More on JDirectItems Shopping Hishikawa Moronobu The artist credited with bringing the art of ukiyo-e to life and popularity. Beauty Looking Back is an especially famous work of his. Hishikawa drew many pictures of beautiful women and actors. See More on Rakuten Store See More on JDirectItems Shopping Suzuki Harunobu Suzuki is known for having perfected a very detailed and elaborate multicolor woodblock print technique called ‘nishiki-e’. He also created many images of romantic scenes, and special calendar prints known as ‘e-goyomi’, which hid the numbers and letters inside otherwise normal paintings to avoid shogunate censors. See More on Rakuten Store See More on JDirectItems Shopping Toshusai Sharaku The so-called ‘Sharaku’ is an ukiyo-e artist who suddenly burst onto the scene with iconic pieces and stopped working in the span of just eight months. He left behind many powerful paintings of actors and beautiful women from this time that are still admired today as masterpieces of ukiyo-e. See More on Rakuten Store See More on JDirectItems Shopping Utagawa Kuniyoshi The master artist Utagawa held a wealth of eccentric ideas and compositions in his head. He was a unique artist and painter whose portfolio included styles such as yoko-e (horizontally oriented paintings), landscapes, comics, veiled political critiques and images of animals turned into humans. See More on Rakuten Store See More on JDirectItems Shopping Utagawa Hiroshige Utagawa Hiroshige came from the same Utagawa ukiyo-e school as Utagawa Kuniyoshi, both having taken the name of their master as was customary at the time. The Plum Garden of Kameido and Sudden Shower over Shin-Ōhashi bridge and Atake from his One Hundred Famous Views of Edo series are also famous for having been copied by Vincent Van Gogh. See More on Rakuten Store See More on JDirectItems Shopping The variety of styles shown in this selection of ukiyo-e masters is an example of the striking, adaptable nature of ukiyo-e art. Clearly there’s a good reason why these prints became popular worldwide soon after Japan opened up to foreign trade in the 19th century! We encourage you to continue your journey with ukiyo-e art and see if there is a print that would be a great piece for you to own as well!The post All About Japanese Ukiyo-e Art! first appeared on Buyee Blog.

2024-12-12 07:07

Could Furoshiki Be Your New Gift Wrapping Hack?

When thinking of the best way to give a gift to those you care about, there are many styles to choose from! In Japan, the art of gift wrapping has developed an especially deep culture. Using traditional furoshiki wrapping cloth is recommended as a way to reuse the same material many times. There are various ways to wrap things depending on their shape and size, or their intended use. This article will give you a look into the deep world of furoshiki gift wrapping culture. What is Furoshiki? There are many kinds of furoshiki gift wrapping, and you can freely change the style to meet your needs based on what is being wrapped and the purpose. When using furoshiki, it is important to not only consider how to pack the item, but how it helps you to carry it. But where exactly did the name ‘furoshiki’ come from? It is said that it is a term from Japan’s Muromachi period (1336 – 1573). When people would go to public baths, they would wrap their clothing in cloth featuring their family symbol so that it would not be taken by another guest by mistake. Furoshiki Wrapping Styles As we mentioned before, furoshiki gift wrapping is a convenient skill that comes in many styles and forms. Here is an introduction to some of the most frequently used types of furoshiki wrapping! Basic Wrapping Method The most basic furoshiki wrapping style is known as ‘mamusubi’ in Japanese. It is similar to the rope typing methods known as the ‘reef knot’ or ‘square knot’ in English. Compared to other wrapping methods it is not that difficult. You simply place the item to be wrapped up in the center of the cloth and wrap around it, and finally tie both ends of the cloth. Watch the video below for easy to follow instructions! Flower Knot Method Since this kind of knot, known as ‘hana-musubi’ in Japanese, can be easily tied and untied many times, it is used for gifts during more general celebratory events, such as a thank-you gift, for meetings, and for commemorations. It is used with the intention to repeatedly use it again as much as needed. The video below is a good visual guide to hana-musubi (Japanese only) Double Bottle Wrapping Method Furoshiki can make your cloth easily wrap around even items of unusual size as bottles! The word ‘bin-tsutsumi’ refers to the Japanese method of wrapping bottles of the same size as a bottle of wine. You can use this basic wrapping method to even pack together two bottles if you feel the need! See the video below for more info. A New Present Wrapping Hack! Have you gotten more interested in the wide and convenient world of furoshiki gift wrapping? If you wish to give gifts with a new style, this method will definitely not disappoint! Great Stores for Furoshiki For newly interested furoshiki fans, JDirectItems Shopping and Mercari are highly recommended by us for furoshiki goods! Check out what is available via the following links. Buyee JDirectItems Shopping Store Buyee Mercari Online Store Japanese Gifts Special Feature If this article has piqued your interest in the Japanese culture of gift-giving, or what kind of gifts are usually given in Japan, we recommend that you give Buyee’s Japanese Gifts Special Feature article a look to get more great ideas! See More HereThe post Could Furoshiki Be Your New Gift Wrapping Hack? first appeared on Buyee Blog.

2024-12-12 06:59

The Fashion and Culture of Japan’s Taisho Era

What is the Taisho Era? The Taisho era (1912-1926) was a relatively short period of Japanese history nestled between the much longer Meiji (1868-1912) and Showa (1926-1989) eras. It was a time of great change, in which Western culture permeated Japanese popular culture and the average lifestyle of Japanese people changed drastically. Many words and phrases such as ‘Taisho Roman’ (Taisho romantic, a general word for Taisho culture and fashion) ‘Mobo-moga’ (modern boy/modern girl, referring to the younger and more modernized generations of the time) and ‘High kara’ (high collar, a Taisho era slang word for western culture) symbolize the characteristics of this unique period of time. In this article you will get a crash course on the trends of the Taisho period, with a focus on fashion and popular culture. An Era of Wars, Turmoil and Natural Disasters During World War I, Japan’s policy of active trading resulted in a booming economy due to a global shortage of goods, but afterwards it fell into a great depression. A large earthquake known as the Great Kanto Earthquake occurred during this period, which added to the feeling of unrest. At the same time, Tokyo was rapidly modernizing, with many new Western-style buildings being erected. Department stores in large cities were fitted with new escalators and elevators, and restaurants were introduced to Western dishes such as croquettes and omelets, which have become popular parts of the Japanese diet. In terms of mass entertainment, movies, plays, rakugo and baseball all became popular during this time. The twitter video below can give you a good idea of the style of the time. https://twitter.com/XMbHWFpbX/status/1332660107881050118?s=20 The Nostalgic and Modern Image of Taisho Roman Taisho Roman is a term used to describe the popular culture that flourished during the Taisho era. This was a time of change, such as in how Japanese women had a much better chance at having a professional career, and how Western influences gave way to distinct new clothing and haircut styles. Dressing with inspiration from Western culture, these women were called ‘mogo’ (modern girls) in Japan. The contemporary artists who best captured a Taisho Roman feeling in their works were Takehisa Yumeji, Koji Fukiya, and Kashō Takabatake. Takehisa Yumeji Tanabata Tanabata by Takehisa Yumeji A colorful print from Takehisa yumeji depicting a beautiful young woman enjoying the Japanese Tanabata Star Festival. Kurofuneya Kurofuneya by Takehisa Yumeji Kurofuneya (Black Ship Store) is a Takehisa Yumeji piece originally made from a woodblock print and distributed via traditional Japanese ‘washi’ paper. Find More on JDirectItems Auction Koji Fukiya Shimai Nakayoshi Sugoroku Shimai Nakayoshi Sugoroku by Koji Fukiya An illustration from a page of a Koji Fukiya art book. Collected Works Book Koji Fukiya Collected Works book A collection of illustrations by Koji Fukiya. Find More on JDirectItems Auction Misc. Taisho Roman Fashion Items Modern Girl Item Box Set A box set of 8 Modern Girl style-influenced toys. Check Here Modern Girl Handbag A small handbag from Regirl in the style of handbags popular with Modern Girl fashion. Check Here Taisho Style Yukata This colorful yukata features much of the strong patterns and design sense of typical Modern Girl clothing. Check Here Manga and Games Influenced by the Taisho Era The popular Demon Slayer series is owes much of its design to memories of the Taisho era. The streets of Asakusa, Tokyo where Tanjiro Kamado first encounters Muzan Kibutsuji draw heavily from the area’s appearance at that time. Taisho era’s influence extends to other media, such as Rozen Maiden 0, Taisho Romantica and the recent Sakura Wars game, which takes place in a fictional futuristic version of Taisho era Japan. Demon Slayer Vol. 1 See More Rozen Maiden Vol. 1 See More Sakura Wars Game (PS4) See More Within the instability of the Taisho era was a vibrant culture which has a strong presence in the popular culture of Japan today. It’s probably safe to say that Demon Slayer will not be the last time that a franchise with Taisho Roman influence achieves great success! If you are interested in looking for Japan-exclusive goods that can add Taisho artistic influence to your lifestyle, using proxy shipping services like Buyee to order from Japanese stores like Mercari or JDirectItems Auction is our recommendation! You can check them out via the links below. JDirectItems Auction Mercari Store Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Special FeatureThe post The Fashion and Culture of Japan’s Taisho Era first appeared on Buyee Blog.

2024-12-12 06:36