On Tuesday, November 10, as part of our WOW program, we welcomed an instructor from Karin, a traditional machiya workshop in Kyoto, and took on the challenge of creating authentic kintsugi accessories. A similar workshop was held last month, but due to the high level of interest among students, we organized a second session.

In this workshop, students created accessories using fragments of pottery, including Kiyomizu ware, and natural stones. Each finished piece could be used in three different ways: as a brooch, pendant top, or key ring.

At the beginning of the workshop, students also had the opportunity to see an actual lacquer tree, the source of the lacquer traditionally used in kintsugi. For our second-year junior high school students, who had studied "The Beauty and Spirit of Kintsugi" in their Japanese language classes, this was a valuable opportunity to connect classroom learning with hands-on experience and deepen their understanding of kintsugi as a traditional Japanese art form.

In today's society, where mass production and mass consumption have become the norm, students had the opportunity to experience a traditional Japanese philosophy of repairing broken objects and continuing to cherish and use them. We hope this experience encouraged participants to reflect on the importance of taking care of their belongings and reconsider their relationship with the objects around them.