Make a Pure Silver Spoon with a Master Craftsman in Kuramae

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. )

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.

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.”

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.