Traditional Kintsugi vs Modern Kintsugi: what is the difference and how to choose a suitable practice.
- mikster
- 21 hours ago
- 7 min read
What Is Traditional Kintsugi?
1. Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional kintsugi began not as a standalone craft, but as a small branch of Japanese lacquer work. Historically, there was no separate occupation called a “kintsugi artisan.” Instead, kintsugi was carried out by:
Urushi lacquer craftsmen, whose primary work involved lacquering, repairing, and finishing functional objects.
Maki-e artists, experts in gold-sprinkled lacquer decoration, who could execute the fine finishing touches of a gold repair.
Kintsugi was something these artisans did as part of a broader skill set. It was simply one application of their knowledge of urushi. Because kintsugi was embedded in the world of lacquer craft, it inherited the cultural values, regional techniques, and slow rhythms of that world.
Interestingly, we also started seeing the term “hon kintsugi”, which means “original” or “authentic” kintsugi. It entered the vocabulary only recently, after the international rise of simplified resin-based approaches. Historically, people did not need to specify “original kintsugi” because there was only one method.
Traditional kintsugi is therefore inseparable from its cultural lineage: the urushi trees that produce natural lacquer, the artisans who refine it, and the Japanese lacquer craft practices with over 9000 years in history that inform how it is used.
2. Materials & Methodology
Traditional kintsugi uses entirely natural materials—urushi sap, minerals, and pure gold or silver. Each step is deliberate and slow. The multiple layers must cure in a warm, humid environment (the urushi-buro box), and each primer mixture—whether sabi, kokuso, or kin-tsugi finishing lacquer—has been refined through generations of practice.
There is no shortcut. The work is not designed to be fast because urushi itself is not fast. Its curing process is an integral part to achieve quality work.
This is why traditional kintsugi repairs can endure generations when done properly, and why they reflect not only technical skill but also the cultural values of patience, respect for materials, and deep craftsmanship.
What Is Modern Kintsugi?
1. Cultural Context & Emergence
Modern kintsugi is a contemporary reinterpretation that did not originate in Japan and has no rooted connection to lacquer craft. As kintsugi philosophy got picked up by the wellness industry with the broken pottery with the golden-joinery imagery began circulating online, many Western potters and artists became captivated by the aesthetic. Without understanding this is rooted in lacquer craft, nor have access to Japanese urushi lacquer, or the training about the material and methods.
Thus triggered the experimentation with conventional hardware-store-material.
Epoxies or A+B part chemical resins
Super glue
Mica powders or any metallic pigment, foils or paints
Some even coined terms like “proprietary kintsugi method,” despite having no relationship to historical kintsugi practices. Over time, this approach became known under many names:
Modern kintsugi
Neo-kintsugi, New Kintsugi
Simple kintsugi
Hybrid kintsugi
Because it offered quick results and accessible materials, modern kintsugi spread rapidly through DIY communities, online classes, tourist workshops, and social media. Today, it is the version most people encounter first. These new practices eventually make their way into Japan where young generation Japanese aspire and follow what’s trending in the West. Today, modern kintsugi workshops could be found everywhere globally including Japan, where kintsugi originates.
2. Materials & Methodology
Modern methods prioritize speed and convenience in achieving the final “look and feel” of kintsugi. They rely on chemical adhesives and synthetic pigments to achieve an aesthetic inspired by traditional gold lines. The results can be visually striking, but the durability and safety differ drastically. Repair work lacks the refined detailing that lacquer craft can achieve.
Unlike natural lacquer, modern kintsugi repairs:
Are not heat-safe
Are not food-safe
Have rougher finishing
Modern kintsugi delivers a look, not lineage.
Traditional vs Modern Kintsugi: A Clearer Comparison
To help clarify the distinction:
Aspect | Traditional Kintsugi | Modern Kintsugi |
|---|---|---|
Cultural roots | Part of Japanese lacquer craft; done by urushi/maki-e artisans | Western invention with no lacquer lineage |
Materials | Urushi lacquer, mineral clay, hemp fiber, wood powder, gold / silver | Synthetic: epoxy, glue, mica powders |
Time | Weeks to months | Hours to days |
Skills | Requires training and curing knowledge, longer learning-curve | Beginner-friendly |
Safety | Food-safe, durable & stable after proper curing. Urushi in raw state could cause skin allery in most people. | Not food-safe |
Cost | Higher labor & material cost. Real urushi lacquer is a low-yield raw material requiring intensive labor | Affordable conventional hardware-store packaged products. (Epoxy glue, pigments etc..) |
Purpose / Outcome | Long-term, artisanal value, functional repair | Cosmetic, decorative repair |
About Food Safety
Traditional kintsugi, once fully cured, is food-safe and historically used for functional vessels. Modern epoxy kintsugi repairs are not food-safe where toxic chemical may released into the food and beverages through the repaired container.
Read our blog on food-safe kintsugi:👉 “What is food-safe Kintsugi”
How to Choose the Practice That’s Right for You
Choosing between traditional and modern kintsugi depends on what you want the craft to give you. Below are three reflective pathways, each rooted in the reality of the craft and your own objective.
1. If you plan on doing a one-off project but not keen on spending a month or more time to finish a repair. Or if you are attracted by the aesthetic of the golden joinery, the poetic meaning of broken beauty, but not so much the tedious process and detailing.
Modern kintsugi may be the most suitable entry point. It involves minimal tools, no curing box, and a shorter time investment. Using synthetic adhesive and golden paint, you can complete a repair in a weekend, and the process is intuitive for beginners.
However, it’s important to approach this method with awareness: the result is decorative, not traditional, and not meant for food contact. Modern kintsugi is ideal if your goals are creative expression, a weekend project, or repairing something for display.
In this context, modern kintsugi fulfills its purpose beautifully.
2. If you appreciate authentic Japanese craftsmanship, traditional craft culture and discipline
Traditional kintsugi offers a deeper path— in both technique and philosophy. Because it is part of a living lacquer tradition, learning urushi-based kintsugi connects you to:
The history of Japanese craftsmanship
Artisan’s discipline (precision, devotion, attention to details)
Urushi trees and the cultivation industry
The philosophy of care, patience, and material honesty
The precise techniques passed down for generations
Traditional kintsugi is not “harder”; but requires more commitment and patience. If you care about authenticity, lineage, and preserving traditional craft knowledge, this practice will feel aligned and rewarding.
3. If you want to pursue craft seriously or long-term
The traditional pathway is essential. Learning proper urushi handling, understanding curing environments, and practicing maki-e decoration lays the foundation for real mastery.
This is a commitment of time, resources, and attention. And it is also a rare opportunity to participate in a craft that is at risk of disappearing. For those who feel a deeper pull toward Japanese craft, pursuing traditional kintsugi becomes part of a longer, richer journey.
A Note on Kintsugi Kits
Kintsugi kits now exist across a wide spectrum. Some contain synthetic adhesives marketed with Japanese imagery; others contain small amounts of urushi and offer very few hobby craft tools. The key is understanding what the kit is designed for:
Epoxy-based kits are fast, accessible, and ideal for decorative repairs.
Urushi-based kits are for learners ready to commit to proper curing, slower methods, and deeper craft understanding.
A kit is not inherently “good” or “bad.” It is important to read the details and use trusted suppliers.
Kits flooded the market, the problem is not the existence of kits, but the value proposition: many are overpriced, under-equipped, and rely heavily on substitute and mass-produced tools packaged in elaborate boxes.
For beginners looking for a quick introductory experience or for one-off projects, these kits can provide an accessible starting point. But for those who want to learn traditional kintsugi properly, a kit often becomes limiting.
Why we choose to not offer a ready-made kintsugi kit.
We follow a core philosophy of traditional kintsugi - and of Japanese craft education in general: that picking your tools is part of the learning journey. Serious learners begin to understand the craft not only through technique, but through the materials themselves: the weight of a brush, the shapes and sizes of spatulas, the various options of sanding and polishing tools, and the difference between various urushi lacquer.
Curating your own tools encourages:
Appreciation for craftsmanship over packaging
Pacing your spending as you build and advance in skills
Understanding the purpose of each item
Respect for the makers behind the tools
A deeper relationship with the craft’s ecosystem
Instead of selling pre-packaged kits with skewer sticks and hardware-store tools, we guide learners to assemble their own authentic toolkit of quality and handcrafted tools and material, allowing oneself the time to build and accumulate quality tools, based on the methods and one’s level of skills. This approach ensures that learners have their own tool kit that grows with them—one rooted in true craftsmanship rather than trends, and one that reflects the values of traditional Japanese repair work.
Final Thoughts
Kintsugi today is not a single craft but a spectrum, from ancient lacquer traditions to modern reinterpretations. Neither traditional nor modern kintsugi is inherently “better”; what matters is clarity: understanding the method’s roots, materials, and intentions.
As this craft continues to spread globally, it becomes even more important to respect its origins while also acknowledging how people engage with it today.
Whether you are repairing a meaningful heirloom, exploring Japanese craft culture, or considering long-term study, choosing the right approach can make your experience more fulfilling.
Kintsugi, after all, is not only about mending ceramics. It’s about how we choose to mend - with patience, integrity, curiosity, or creativity. The path you choose reflects the values you want to bring into the world of making and repairing.
Explore individual tools and materials, custom made for kintsugi-use at our supply store:👉 Explore Quality Traditional Kintsugi Tools & Materials
And to help you get started, we created a dedicated guide on understanding what to buy and why:👉 The Best kintsugi kit is to build your own