Kintsugi (金継ぎ) is a

Kintsugi is a traditional Japanese repair technique in which broken ceramic ware with cracks or chips is bonded together with lacquer, and the seams are then decorated with metal powders such as gold dust.

This technique, which breathes new life into broken pottery and regenerates it as a unique, one-of-a-kind piece, embodies a distinctly Japanese aesthetic of cherishing objects. One of its appeals is that the repaired pottery can be cherished even more deeply than before.

In recent years, "Kintsugi designs" have become very popular overseas, and restaurants that intentionally use Kintsugi-repaired tableware, as well as interior and fashion items with Kintsugi motifs, are becoming more common. There are also simpler "Kintsugi-style" repair methods that use adhesives and gold-colored paints instead of genuine lacquer.

In Japan, the number of Kintsugi classes and workshops is increasing, and attention is being paid not only to the technique's appeal but also to its philosophical value.

Kintsugi has now become a beautiful expression that fascinates many people, both in Japan and abroad.