JFGM Upper Garden Exhibit Hall
Daily 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Hours subject to change during special events.)
Early Closures: www.niwa.org/early-garden-closures
JFGM General Admission Fee:
$16.00- Adults
$14.00 - Students, Seniors (over 65) & Active-Duty Military (with valid I.D)
Urushi has connected nature, people’s lives, and culture for over 10,000 years. In this era of rapid environmental destruction, the culture created by Urushi is also on the path to extinction. Preserving and passing on Urushi is synonymous with protecting culture and connecting a beautiful Earth to future generations. This exhibition highlights the allure of Urushi as a craft that has supported history and culture and introduces “kintsugi,” the art of repair that creates new value.
While indispensable as a material for crafts, Urushi has also gained attention worldwide for its allure in art and kintsugi. As a result, Urushi has spread alongside the Japanese ethos of using cherished items beautifully and for a long time.
Tsutsumi Asakichi Urushi Shop has been engaged in traditional crafts and important cultural properties for 115 years in Kyoto, functioning as a factory that refines Urushi into usable form. Using materials obtained from nature, handmade tools can be created for everyday life, reflecting the true spirit of craftsmanship.
The essence of craft lies in creating tools for daily life through handwork with materials derived from nature. Through Urushi, we hope people will gain an appreciation for a way of life in harmony with nature, the aesthetic of craftsmanship, and feel closer to Urushi itself.
Tsutsumi Asakichi Urushi Inc
Founded in 1909, they specialize in the processing and production of Urushi at their refining company. Raw Urushi sap is sourced and the entire process is managed in-house, from refining the raw Urushi to producing it for coating, blending, and color matching. In addition to traditional methods passed down through generations, they have developed a new high-dispersion refining process, enabling them to meticulously provide Urushi tailored to the needs of cultural property restoration and traditional crafts.
Standing between the “Urushi harvesters” who cultivate and collect Urushi on the mountainside and the “Urushi artisans” who skillfully apply it, we are acutely aware of the gap that exists between Urushi and everyday life, alongside the worrying decline in Urushi production.
As an initiative to connect the culture of living with Urushi to future generations, Isutsumi Asakichi Urushi Inc. started the “Urushi no Ippo" project. Through innovative combinations such as “Surfing × Urushi,” “BMX × Urushi,” and “Skateboarding × Urushi,” they are introducing new ways for people to engage with Urushi.
Urushi, a sustainable natural material that has been used in Japan for over 10,000 years, is positioned as something that must be passed onto future generations. With this vision, they explore the untapped potential of Urushi beyond traditional boundaries and have begun efforts to expand the circle of Urushi cultivation. The initiative advocates for the “Forest of Craftsmanship,” a cyclical approach to creation where “planting,” “making,” and “using” are interconnected.
For more information, visit https://www.tsutsumi-urushi.com/en