Kokuso's story

The reason I wrote "Kokuso" in katakana in the title is because there are cases where the kanji characters are different. Both "刻苧" and "木屎" are pronounced the same and serve the same purpose of filling in defects, but the materials used are different.

In the Circolo Kintsugi class, when the damage is extensive, we use "hemp," and for less extensive damage, we use "wood powder." There are various types of hemp, but the one we use in the class is called ramie (or karamushi, choma), which is called rummy in English.

Other options include hemp and linen.

It's written as "刻苧" because it's made by chopping up hemp and stuffing it into the filling.

It is mainly used to carve grooves with a small chisel into the joints of lacquerware and fill them in.

This process is called "carving and scraping of the ramie thread."

* "Sashimono fabric" refers to the process of creating boxes, tiered boxes, and other items by gluing together thin wooden boards; there is also a term called "Edo-style sashimono."

In the case of wood powder, zelkova wood is used, but this is also called "wood dregs" because it means wood waste.

In terms of how to obtain it, wood shavings from bowls turned by woodturners or sawdust are often used. The type of wood powder used also varies depending on the lacquer-producing region and the individual, and may include cypress, boxwood, or paulownia.

Another unique ingredient, which we used in Wajima where I lived, was called "sōmiko," which is made by steaming and charring wood flour.

Even in Buddhist statues from the Nara period, the detailed modeling (such as facial expressions) was done using wood dung.

*Famous examples include the Shōsōin Treasure House.

*Shōsōin → A storehouse that preserved items associated with Emperor Shōmu during the Nara period. It is said that there used to be several, but now only the one in Nara remains. The methods of preserving and recording the stored items were well-established, and it is even considered the oldest museum.

The Shosoin Exhibition is held every November at the Nara National Museum, where you might be able to see masterpieces of lacquerware and mother-of-pearl inlay.

*Gigaku masks → These were used as masks for dance performances during the Nara period. They come in a variety of designs.

As you can see, there are various ways to use and create these techniques. Let's learn to use them effectively and apply them to kintsugi!