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Special Experience
Other crafts
Make a Pure Silver Spoon with a Master Craftsman in Kuramae
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Overview
The quiet energy of a manufacturing town and the bustle of markets combine in Kuramae. This district in downtown Tokyo has long been a hotspot for the capital’s artisans. Create a solid silver spoon at a silversmith that has operated in the area for twelve generations, then use your creation to enjoy ice cream and drinks from a local café. This experience is also an excellent opportunity to learn about the peculiarities of Tokyo silverware.
Key Features
・Act as an apprentice for the day at a twelfth-generation silversmith
・Make a delightful spoon from pure silver (99.9%)
・Enjoy ice cream and drinks from a local café, eaten with your spoon
(Ice cream will not be served if you have allergies. )
Tokyo
from
¥27,000 /person
1 - 4 participants
120 min
Available in English
Cancel free up to 8 days before
* If fewer than 2 participants, the minimum fee will be JPY 54,000
Details
Twelve Generations of Silversmithing
Nisshin Kikinzoku is one of Kuramae’s standout family-owned workshops. Currently headed by the eleventh-generation owner, Sosho Kamikawa, and his children, it specializes in Tokyo silverware made with traditional patterns and designs.
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Some tools in the workshop have been used and passed down for more than 80 years
Guests will be welcomed by twelfth-generation silversmith Sohaku Kamikawa.
![](https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/a061b71b7a084ccfa781f19d8659cbbd/29471a048ecc404fa16539ea902d35ba/en_nisshin-kikinzoku_AR01.jpg)
Sohaku hopes that this experience will familiarize more people with traditional Japanese crafts
A Remarkable Metal
Silver has long been valued around the world for its unique properties. It develops a subdued luster when polished, and is ideal for traditional mirrors. Silverware doesn’t crack when dropped, and can be easily repaired if dented, faded, and tarnished. Silver has often been used in tableware due to its outstanding thermal conductivity and natural antibacterial properties. This experience uses 99.9% pure silver in order to express these qualities fully. The more you use your handmade spoon, the more it will respond to your use and develop a unique texture.
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This silver kettle is more than 70 years old, and was created by tenth-generation Sosho Kamikawa
Today, only a handful of traditional silversmiths still operate in Japan. Nisshin Kikinzoku is one of the only places where visitors can learn directly about the history and charms of Japanese silverware.
Facing Silver with Single-Minded Devotion
The spoon-making experience takes place in the workshop itself, surrounded by the tools of the trade. After practicing the hammering technique on a comparatively hard copper plate, guests are invited to consider the pattern they would like to apply on the spoon. Sohaku is happy to assist in finding ways to express an idea in a hammered design.
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Force, direction, and rhythm all play a role in the expression of a pattern in silver
Guests will hammer their design according to guide marks made with an oil pen. The technique is a delicate one, requiring precise application of force. While it may be difficult at first, guests will soon find themselves falling into a rhythm, and the sound of hammering quickly leads one into a meditative state.
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The traditional ‘gozame’ pattern represents the weave of a tatami mat. Words and symbols can also be engraved
After the pattern is imprinted, the spoon is set on a wooden mold and struck with a large mallet to form the bowl.
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Silver becomes stronger and harder as it is struck, so even hammering is essential
Once the rough texture is applied, guests will polish their spoon using cream and a soft cloth to give it a dazzling sheen. The hammered patterns take on a new, liquid-like appearance that can be admired from every angle.
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Each spoon is unique
A Perfect Partner to Ice Cream
The spoon is ready to be used right away. Ice cream offers the perfect way to explore silver’s heat-transmitting properties. When held for a short while, body heat spreads across the whole spoon’s surface, allowing for smooth scooping. When you bring a spoonful of ice cream to your mouth, the cold metal quickly warms, adding to the delightful sensations. (Ice cream will not be served if you have allergies. )
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Silver is strong and lightweight, making it perfect as a materials for drinking vessels
Silver cups will mellow the taste of drinks poured into them. Acidic drinks like orange juice become milder, while the astringency of tea is rounded out allowing the original flavor of the tea leaves to expand. Guests are invited to try various drinks out of glass and silver drinking vessels and compare their impressions.
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Silver gently reduces bitterness and acidity
A Shimmering, Personal Heirloom
Guests are welcome to take their spoons home that day in a specially-made paulownia box with a cleaning cloth. Sohaku encourages guests not to be overly protective, however and says that “silverware should be used and nurtured on a daily basis rather than simply admired. Don’t put it away, but blend its use into everyday life.”
![](https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/a061b71b7a084ccfa781f19d8659cbbd/014c9510cc1a47acb922bb2b6dd585e6/en_nisshin-kikinzoku_AR09.jpg)
Spoons are common gifts for newborn babies in many countries
At Nisshin Kikinzoku, guests can discover the mysterious charm of silver with their own eyes and hands, and create something to be used and enjoyed for generations to come.
Nisshin Kikinzoku
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Nisshin Kikinzoku
A silversmith that has been in business for twelve generations, Nisshin Kikinzoku inherited the techniques of the Hirata school, which has been making helmets of gold and silver since around 1700. As the number of traditional silversmiths in Japan continues to decrease, the studio runs a number of hands-on workshops with the aim of preserving the charm and history of silver for future generations.
Location
1Chome-3-13 Misuji, Taito Ward, Tokyo
111-0055
Meeting place may be slightly different from the location of the venue. For the exact meeting point, please check email from Wabunka.
Request for booking
September 2024
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Mon
Tue
Wed
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Available
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Full
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Tokyo
from
¥27,000 /person
1 - 4 participants
120 min
Available in English
Cancel free up to 8 days before
* If fewer than 2 participants, the minimum fee will be JPY 54,000
Customer's Voice
The silversmith, Yoshitsugu Kamikawa is very knowledgeable and experienced teacher who loves to share the art of silversmith. He is patient and knowledgeable, very positive. I was surprised to learn that he was also very famous in some Japanese craftsman shows and exhibitions, but one can’t tell that by dealing with him as he is very modest and humble.
X.L. United States
Things to know
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