The Supplies
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We do not sell Kintsugi Kit or hobby kit.
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This is a great place to expand your tools and material to what practitioners use in Japan. Or replenish your supplies.
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If you are lost in our shop, feel free to email us your questions and we can put together our recommendation based on your level of experience or tools that you may already been using for your kintsugi projects. Or read our quick guide.
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Kintsugi and urushi craft supplies are very extensive and suppliers occasionally evolve their products (like urushi). We focus on the essentials for kintsugi repair works and will expand our assortment.
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Remember to read the SUPER IMPORTANT NOTES about Japanese urushi lacquer.
2024 December
Kintsugi Workshop
in Japan
Book Now
December 14-20, 2024
Kintsugi Tools & Material
Not the fine prints.
The must-read for anyone working in Japanese lacquer "urushi".
Japanese urushi is tree sap that belongs to the same family as poison oak. It is an organic material and has many active properties when in raw and wet state. Many people develop allergic reaction when their skin comes in contact with wet urushi. Rash and blisters may appear and sometime causes severe pain with open wounds.
If skin-contact occured, wipe affected area with olive oil or vegetable oil immediately before urushi penetrates into the skin. (Washing with water would not work as the molecule is insoluable.) Once absorbed into the skin and allergic reaction triggered, ichiness or pain could last for 2-3 weeks.
USE AT YOUR OWN RISK especially if you are uncertain if you are allergic to the material. Goenne / Taketombo and our partner suppliers shall not be liable for any medical conditions caused by urushi use. It is important to be educated about the material, and follow strict safety measures.
Safety Measure
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Before working with urushi, coat your hands/palms and wrist with some lotion to create a barrier that could slow down absorption, in case your skin touches urushi paint.
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Always wear gloves and clothings with long sleeves when working with urushi. Discard gloves and contaminated cloths properly.
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In rare cases, urushi vapor can cause allergic reaction, work in well-ventilated space.
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Always clean all work surface with alcohol after working with urushi.
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Keep away from children. If accidentally ingested, seek medical help immediately.
Storage
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Urushi is an active material and love to stay in cool and dark places.
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It has about 1 year's shelf-life after which the color or viscosity will start to change.
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Putting ki-urushi in refrigerator can extend the shelf-life to 5 years maximum. But care should be taken to store them inside a separate container and keep them away from food.
The Magic of Urushi
Urushi in its wet state is organic and volatile. When exposed to open air, the material starts to change. That is why working with urushi requires monitoring of environment (temperature and humidity). Urushi artisans in Japan can only work during certain seasons as summer heat and humidity of the Japan island cause the material to change rapidly. The hue of the color changes, and rapid drying-time will result in uneven or wrinkled surfaces. Although, a highly experienced lacquer artisan told me "Well, you just have to work super fast in the summer! (LOL). I do. (LOL)"
But once urushi is cured, they become exceptionally stable, durable and food-safe. For centuries, urushi is applied to food-serving ware for its durability. The more it is being used and washed, the harder it gets! And it has a tendency to become translucent, so aesthetically it changes and starts to reveal different tone of color due to refraction and pigments in the many layers.
It also has other beneficial properties. Recently, Japanese urushi is found to have anti-bacterial and deodorizing properties. In 2020, various companies in Japan started using urushi to develop deodorizing in-soles for shoes. (Read local article-Japanese) .
Urushi is not just a paint material you find in hardware store. It is organic. It is a very special material in the Japanese culture, it has been treated with a lot of care and respect.
FURTHER READING:
Kintsugi Partnership - Consultation - Workshops
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Workshop teachers looking to curate your own authentic, quality material kit?
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Seeking to host or organize authentic kintsugi seminars in English? (online or physical)
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Interested in organizing private or corporate function or training with traditional kintsugi craft?
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Sourcing high-quality and authentic kintsugi tools and material in bulk?
If you are a supporter or educator of authentic traditional kintsugi craft, let's partner! We are open to hear your projects and ideas.
