NPO Japan Mokumegane Research Institute｜BLOG: Mokumegane Seminar Archives

Mokume-Gane Lecture: Morioka College of Businesse

杢目金屋 (February 20, 2015 6:47 PM)

JMRI run a mokume-gane lecture for Morioka College of Businesse on 18th February.

Mokume-gane objects made on Edo era attached the students by their highly skilled- smithed technique and their beauty.

Inquiries about Mokume-Gane seminars/workshops are here:
Email: npo_mokumegane@yahoo.co.jp

Mokume-gane lecture : MOKUMEGANEYA Co., Ltd.

杢目金屋 (December 26, 2014 5:00 PM)

JMRI run a mokume-gane lecture for MOKUMEGANEYA on 26th December 2014.

CEO of JMRI explained about Mokume-gane objects made on Edo era to staffs of MOKUMEGANEYA.

They bent forward and listened eagerly and are attached Mokume-gane object by their highly skilled- smithed technique and their beauty .

Inquiries about Mokume-Gane seminars/workshops are here:
Email: npo_mokumegane@yahoo.co.jp

Mokume-gane lecture : Kindergarten

杢目金屋 (June 3, 2013 10:00 AM)

JMRI run a mokume-gane lecture for Kindergarten in Tokyo on May 2013.

CEO of JMRI explained about Edo era on which Mokume-gane objects are made with various form relating daily life.

Childrens enjoyed the story of Edo era and mokume-gane objects, especialy Samurai !

Inquiries about Mokume-Gane seminars/workshops are here:
Email: npo_mokumegane@yahoo.co.jp

Mokume-gane lecture : Nagoya Zokei University

杢目金屋 (May 31, 2013 10:00 AM)

JMRI run a mokume-gane lecture for Nagoya Zokei University of Art and Design on 30th May 2013.

Mokume-gane objects made on Edo era attached the students by their highly skilled- smithed technique and their beauty.

Inquiries about Mokume-Gane seminars/workshops are here:
Email: npo_mokumegane@yahoo.co.jp

Mokume-gane seminar : Bunka Gakuen University

杢目金屋 (October 19, 2012 10:00 AM)

JMRI run a mokume-gane lecture for stuents of Bunka Gakuen University on 16th December 2012.

Mokume-gane objects made on Edo era attached the students by their highly skilled- smithed technique and their beauty.

Inquiries about Mokume-Gane seminars/workshops are here:
Email: npo_mokumegane@yahoo.co.jp

Mokume-Gane Lecture: Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry

日本杢目金研究所 (October 6, 2010 5:21 PM)

JMRI run a two-hour mokume-gane lecturer for career-college students at Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry on 29th of September. It was so popular that the original 60-seats were oversubscribed and the class was packed with students & teachers on the day. Because of the unique opportunity to learn traditional Japanese metal technique first hand, a couple of students from abroad requested spare seats (so we heard and we were glad)!

The contents of the lecture are;

Introduction: What is Mokume-Gane?
History of Mokume-Gane
How to make Mokume-Gane
Mokume Works (Abroad)
Application of mokume-gane into contemporary jewelery works (Works by Masaki Takahashi)

Image (left): A view of the classroom at the mokume-gane lecture (Hiko Mizuno college of Jewelry, Tokyo campus) The place was filled with ardent students and students were eagerly attentive and taking notes showing a lot of interests during the lecture. ©Japan Mokumegane Research Institute 2009

Image (right): A viewing of mokume-gane/guri-bori sword-fittings and mokume-gane art work during a break time.
©Japan Mokumegane Research Institute 2009

Voice of Participants

Here are some of the comments left by the participants

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

(E)

(F)

(A) It was a big surprise to see so many varieties of mokume-gane! I thought it was an amazing technique that allows you to represent various "expressions" by your choice of metal billet and of processing method. If given the chance, I would love to try making one.

(B) I didn't even know the word "mokume-gane" and felt ashamed as a Japanese. It made me feel like wanting to keep the beautiful legacy in Japan and letting people know about the technique. I had never been taught a history nor a background of a particular metal technique. Thank you so much for letting it happen.

(C) Hearing the talks about the history of mokume-gane, I was surprised to know there was such a wonderful technique like mokume-gane back in Edo period. Works by Takahashi-sensei, they were new design but somehow reminded me of a spirit of Wa, and I thought they were pretty amazing. It made me want to try making one. Thank you very much for today!

(D) It was interesting to see, not only contemporary mokume-gane works, but also many antique works and works by foreign artists. Simple technique it may sound, "interpose metal plates and curve", it has various applications and there is always more to learn, I thought. I would love to attend it again if there are another chances to see mokume-gane works.

(E) It was very educational, as I had never learned the structure nor a making-process of mokume-gane before. When I visited America before, I found it interesting that 木目 was translated into "mokume" as is. Thanks to the lecture today, I came to learn that it is an ancient Japanese technology with a history.

(F) I am ashamed to say that I learned to know the technique only by the lecture today. Looking at the actual mokume-gane pieces up close, I realised that they were so elaborate and very attractive indeed. Since it originates from sword-fittings, I assume there are many works aimed for men, but like Takahashi sensei, I would like to learn more and make feminine works.

Inquiries about Mokume-Gane seminars/workshops are here:
Email: npo_mokumegane@yahoo.co.jp

Three Schools Project: A Mokumegane Seminar

日本杢目金研究所 (September 28, 2009 2:37 PM)

JMRI was invited to hold a mokume-gane seminar at Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry in September 2009, to take part in their Three Schools Project. Three Schools Project was "founded in 1993 by world-renowned jewelery designers, Professor Otto Künzli (Munich), President Takahiko Mizuno and Professor Kazuhiro Itho (Hiko Mizuno) and Professor Joke Brakman (Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam).(http://www.rca.ac.uk)."

On the day, Prof. Künzli, Prof. Hans Stofer from Royal College of Arts in London and an aspiring Japanese jewelry designer, Mr. Jiro Kamata joined the seminar and we all sit in a Japanese-style tatami-room at Hiko Mizuno tokyo campus with students from Japan & abroad, and discuss about mokume-gane. The content of the workshop is as follows;

Introduction
History of Mokume-Gane
How to Make Mokume-Gane
Talks & Discussions over Mokume-gane antique works (JMRI collection)

Image (left): A view of participants looking at mokume-gane sword-fittings.
©Japan Mokumegane Research Institute 2009

Image (right): Masaki Takahashi (The rep. of Japan Mokumegane Research Institute); Prof. Otto Künzli (Academy of Fine Arts in Munich/Akademie der Bildende Künste München): Prof. Hans Stofer (Royal College of Art).
©Japan Mokumegane Research Institute 2009

Voice of Participants

Here are some of the comments left by the participants.

(A)

(B)

(A)

It feels like the image I had about "mokume-gane" has completely changed after the seminar. Mokume-gane has a lot of varieties and it was a joy to witness those in person, looking at the mokume-gane collection. I hope I could apply what I had experienced today to my future (works). Thank you very much.

(B)

Dear Takahashi Sensei,

Thank you very much for bringing us such a precious collection of yours. I have a strong passion in metals and I am glad to have a wonderful experience to see various metal works today. Thank you.

Inquiries about Mokume-Gane seminars/workshops are here:
Email: npo_mokumegane@yahoo.co.jp

Mokume Gane Seminar/Workshop

日本杢目金研究所 (December 26, 2003 4:41 PM)

◎Mokumegane Seminars/Workshops

Japan Mokumegane Research Institute (JMRI) organize seminars/workshops about Mokume-Gane. We believe that a presentation of our collection of antique mokume-gane, guribori, and tsuishu lacquer works will be an unique opportunity for the understanding of the history of mokume-gane, development of the technology and the traditional making method.

The seminar also covers how-to make mokume-gane in a contemporary setting; the application of mokume-gane technique into modern work (Jewelery works by Masaki Takahashi).

From a small scale workshop to a large-sized lecture, we will propose contents according to your need. Please feel free to contact us any time if you have any questions or comments.

Inquiries about Mokume-Gane seminars/workshops are here:
Email: npo_mokumegane@yahoo.co.jp

Previous Seminar: Mokume-Gane Lecture: Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry

Previous Workshop: Three Schools Project: A Mokumegane Seminar

The NPO Japan Mokumegane Research Institute conducts the study and the preservation of Mokume-Gane as well as the various relevant traditional techniques and cultural heritage.