Tokyo Calling : Another Landscape of Japan » Tradition

Kintsugi: The Art of Broken Pieces

Kenji Harada — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 08:07:02 +0000

Kintsugi is the craft in which chipped, cracked or broken ceramic pieces are repaired using a combination of urushi (lacquer) and rice glue. This process inadvertently results in a decoration, the form of which is dictated by the breakage the piece has suffered. Powdered gold is usually applied to the repaired patch or seam before the urushi has set, although less embellished repairs can be made by using urushi alone, materials used do vary. Kintsugi can also be applied to glass. Larger repairs are sometimes enhanced by the later application of decorative patterns or illustrations painted with urushi or a fine grade of powdered metal, in a technique known as maki-e.
The craft dates back to at least the 16th century, and there are various engaging historical anecdotes which emphasise the value placed on items pieced back together, particularly tea-ware. The famous tea master Sen no Rikyu was renowned for his appreciation of the Unzan Katatsuki, an exquisite tea bowl, precisely because of the roughness of its repair.
The moment in time when something has been shattered is permanently captured by the painstaking labours of a craftsman in building up the layers of lacquer to repair a piece. It is this reference to the now that recalls mushin, a lack of attachment to anything, but rather being present in the moment, something constantly available to all, but particularly so when we drop a piece of china.

Filmed & Directed by:
DANIEL EVANS

Produced by
SIMON OXLEY

Edited by
ALEX MEAD

Music
FREDDIE WEB & JOE FARLEY for WAKE THE TOWN
[ wakethetown.com ]

Kintsugi craftsmen:

Muneaki Shimode & Takahiko Sato

Project originator: Teruo Kurosaki

UK co-ordination: Tim Toomey

With special thanks to Yamakyu Japanware & tokyobike London [ tokyobike.co.uk ]

The Lion / Kabuki

Kenji Harada — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 17:45:30 +0000

Unsure of his own identity, a half Japanese, half American man begins to practice the Japanese performance art of Kabuki, and in doing so finds the clarity and meaning in his life he had been searching for.

2014 GRAND PRIZE WINNER at the Mill Valley Film Festival, Art of Amazing 4K Showcase

STARRING: Kirk Nishikawa Dixon
DIRECTED BY: Anthony Gilmore
PRODUCTION PARTNER: Senryu Hayashida
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Ryan Seale
EDITING: Carl Bradley
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: Nami Isomura
HAIR PIECE: Matsubara Katsura co.
TRADITIONAL COSTUME: Kitatoku co.
DJI RONIN OPERATORS: Ryan Seale / Peter Majtan
B CAMERA: Takayoshi Tsuchiya
LIGHTING/GAFFER: Fumio Sugiyama
LIGHTING ASSISTANT: Takuya Segawa
SOUND RECORDIST: Takuro Natsuhara
RE-RECORDING MIXER: Hiroki Sawada
SOUND DESIGN: Hajime Saito
EQUIPMENT PARTNER: DJI
COLOR: Carl Bradley
GRAPHICS: Nick Rosier

SPECIAL THANKS: Ukon Nishikawa, Kazumasa Nishikawa, Masako Nishikawa, Nishikawa Ryu

SHOT ON: RED Epic/Scarlet
LENSES: Arri Ultra Primes 24mm/32mm/50mm/85mm AND Canon 100mm macro

YOSAKOI-CHITOSE

Kenji Harada — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 16:13:54 +0000

Yosakoi (よさこい) is a unique style of dance that originated in Japan. Yosakoi started in the city of Kōchi in 1954, as a modern rendition of Awa Odori, a traditional summer dance. Yosakoi-style dancing has spread throughout much of Japan. The style of dance is highly energetic, combining traditional Japanese dance movements with modern music. The choreographed dances are often performed by large teams. Along with a number of professional yosakoi schools and town dance teams, yosakoi is also a popular event during the sports festivals held by Japanese elementary, junior, and senior high schools. Yosakoi participants include men and women of almost all ages – sometimes within a single team.

Otaue-Shinji festival in Osaka Japan.

Kenji Harada — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 08:07:25 +0000

Otaue-Shinji festival in Osaka Japan.

Japan Culture Web Magazine「Tadaima」
tadaimajp.com/
facebook.com/tadaimajp