Using lacquer to reassemble broken vessels by pasting shards together and coating with gold or silver powder, a technique known as Kintsugi. In Western cultures, repairs aim to return a piece to its original state. Kintsugi does the opposite, emphasizing flaws to create newfound beauty. Continuing in the spirit of this tradition dating back to the 15th century, artisan Kuroda Yukiko has garnered worldwide attention. Come witness her precise technique and passion for this unique artform.
Asakusa, Tokyo, is home to many shrines and temples. Visitors often buy "omikuji," which are small pieces of paper with fortunes written on them. Normally burned for disposal, washi paper artisan Shinoda Kaho came up with the idea of recycling them as a new style of washi, which is not only beautiful but durable as well. Her washi handbags are gaining popularity in and out of Japan. This may well be the birth of a new local specialty in an area long known for papermaking and paper recycling.
After leaving his math teaching job Suzuki Yuichi became a doctor, but he has no license. The surgeries he performs require a drill or a screwdriver not a scalpel, and his patients aren't humans but toys. Children bring their broken toys to him; all kinds of toys, broken in all kinds of ways. The repairs can be a challenge, but with boundless ingenuity and enthusiasm he gets the job done. He receives no pay, but he does have a lesson for his young clients, "Cherish your precious toys forever!"
Cheap plastic umbrellas are all too easily used and thrown away in Japan. And since they're difficult to break down, recycling efforts have stalled. But young creator Saito Aki has an original idea that may be the solution. By compressing layers of plastic from old umbrellas she's created a beautiful new fabric and turned it into a hit line of fashionable handbags. Just to look, you'd never guess where it came from. The perfect blend of style and environmental-awareness-raising substance.
Azuno Tadafumi runs a rather unconventional retail space. It doesn't just carry used tools or furniture, but also salvaged lumber. Many Japanese country houses go vacant. These derelict homes are regularly torn down. When he hears about a demolition, he goes there to see if there is any wood that can still be used. He calls what he does, "rescue," aiming to keep useful wood from being thrown away. He believes that wood can take on the emotions of the people who occupy the spaces it's used in.
Komuro Maito has a studio in downtown Tokyo where he works with traditional plant-based dyes. His dyes are made from things that would normally be discarded like fruit skins or pruned twigs. But the results he achieves are so stunning, it's hard to believe. His methods are primitive, boiling to extract natural pigments while imagining the color that will result. It can vary greatly depending on the plants used, and even on the season. As he's fond of saying, "trash is treasure."
Japanese chef Kai Kosei offers dishes featuring "Zako," fish with little or no market value. Either because they're too small or aren't commonly eaten, they're mostly discarded. In response, Kai's restaurant celebrates their deliciousness, serving unfamiliar fish like mottled spinefoot or Roudi escolar as sashimi, or deep-fried Luna lionfish. His Zako cuisine is a hit. And due in part to his efforts, these once "useless" fish are now regularly seen in the fish market.
For over 40 years Tsukamoto Yoshifusa has used scrap wood from old Japanese houses to make violins. Carefully carving the front and back plates using self-taught techniques, each one takes nearly a year to complete. So far, he's made 45. He says old wood is ideal. The older the drier. The denser the grain, the richer the sound. His family also loves to play his scrap wood violins. The "joy of wood" helps keep them in harmony.
Flowers accompany life's most important moments. But there's a sadness to picked flowers. They color our lives and are all too quickly discarded. Kawashima Haruka makes the most of them, drying discarded flowers for a second incarnation. And once that role is done, she further preserves them for yet another use. Her aim is a world where flowers are part of every aspect of life, where they're not merely plucked and discarded at our convenience and are cherished until they finally decay.
Nakahara Keiko lives at the foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains in central Japan. She dyes fabric using nearby plants and makes reusable food wrappers with wax from local honeybees. Her commitment to an eco-friendly lifestyle includes reusing worn-out fabric for clothing. The things she makes are simple and tasteful, and so popular that locals regularly come to buy them. Her work is her way of life, and her love of life extends to all things. Indeed, she too is busy as a bee.
Japanese schoolchildren wear backpacks known as Randoseru. Though sturdily made, after the first 6 years they're no longer used. Nishikawa Masako takes such disused Randoseru brought in by clients and remakes them into accessories that even adults can use like wallets or key fobs. Her work has been so well received that her client list is steadily growing. She sees what she does as helping to preserve cherished childhood memories.
Working as an architectural designer after college, Kigami Natsuko soon added "jewelry maker" to her job description. Using things like discarded tile and other waste that's all too common on construction sites, she makes earrings and other jewelry. Her simple yet elegant creations have become a hit in trend-setting Shibuya, showcasing her belief that any scrap can truly shine.
The Japanese southern island of Okinawa Prefecture, warm all year, this popular tourist spot is home to "Ryukyu Glass," a local industry for over 100 years. Glass blower Matsumoto Sakae insists on using discarded bottles as raw material. He says their status as trash inspires him to give them beauty, making things that will be loved and never again thrown away. Hoping, in some small way, to reduce waste in the world, he keeps his furnace hot and his tools ready.
Kids just love coloring with crayons! But what if a child puts them in their mouth or tries to eat them? Kimura Naoko has come up with a new type of crayon made with fruits and vegetables that's totally non-toxic. And instead of "red" or "yellow," each one is labeled with the name of the key ingredient like "apple" or "yam." Most of the raw materials used are discards or remainders. Her crayons' aim is to spread love for the bounty of the earth.
In a Tokyo studio Fujisawa Yuki processes old clothing, giving it new life using dye or lace. She also uses the technique of hot stamping to apply gold or silver leaf, reinforcing damaged areas and making them shine. She says she loves the "memory" of old clothing, evoking a time, a place or a person. She enjoys speculating about who made it and the personality of its former owner. This comes through in her work, carrying those memories forward into the future.
Kubo Tomonori is a sommelier. He's also an artist who makes portraits from used wine corks. He's done famous faces like Leonardo da Vinci, Salvador Dali and Audrey Hepburn. He insists on using only shades created by actual wine, saying that the natural color is more beautiful. Cork is a valuable natural resource, but most gets thrown away after its role as a bottle stopper is complete. Kubo's work has been a hit with wine lovers, and he gets used corks sent in from all over Japan.
Shibahara Katsuji is a skilled woodworker. He makes all kinds of things to order, but from time to time he takes on a particularly unusual request. Remaking an unplayed piano. He makes them into desks, shelves and even doorstops. The sense of memory and history in an old piano is something he approaches with both reverence and a bit of trepidation. He does his best to maintain the original form and avoid over polishing. Even though it no longer makes music, the memories remain.
In Japan over 3 million vehicles a year are scrapped. 80% of the components can be recycled, but the remaining 20% can't be and is discarded as trash. Auto wrecker Kamimura Masanori made up his mind to find a new use for seatbelts and airbags instead of throwing them away. Made to save lives, they're incredibly tough and seldom degrade over time. Combining seatbelts sewn together with airbag linings, he created sturdy bags suitable for outdoor activities. He calls his creation the "Tough Bag."
At Li Rui's sewing school, students learn how to remake adult clothes into kids wear. Most are moms raising children. They bring their own things; items that no longer fit, or they no longer wear but can't part with. Items once destined for disposal are transformed into clothes for their own children with Li's help. And while they work, she looks after the kids, so no need to worry. Kind to both the home and the environment, her school is a place full of laughter for mothers and children alike.
Making use of his vast experience, dyer Izawa Tsuyoshi has added a touch of color to all kinds of things. And 2 years ago, he began a new undertaking; dyeing old and worn-out clothes black. This has several benefits. Black hides damage and stains and makes old look new. Izawa worked to develop a black dye that would work on fabric of any color. Bringing clothes destined for the trash back in black has brought in so much business that there's currently a three-month waiting list for the service.
Matsuba Tomi lives in a town steeped in history, running an inn in an old folk house she restored, reusing waste materials. Discarded bricks line the garden path, the washroom basin is a broken jar, and the windows are a patchwork of old panes; carefully made old things that have become beautiful with time. In winter, dried fruits and vegetables hang from the eaves. She seldom throws anything away, uses everything with care and lives conscientiously. And her aesthetic sense permeates the entire inn.
Produce is generally uniform in color, shape and size due to strict standards, which also makes for improved efficiency, but it means deviations aren't tolerated. Suyama Chimi, who studied agriculture at university, set out to open an eatery using the waste generated, so-called "substandard" produce donated by local farmers. Since costs are low, the meals are low-cost too. In the kitchen every day since graduation, her place is always busy and has become a hub for the nearby community.
Textile artist Hayakawa Yumi lives on a verdant mountainside. Using cloth gathered from all over Asia, she makes one-of-a-kind clothing, bags and more. Scraps of fabric from her work are scattered all over her home studio as she never discards them. Almost completely self-sufficient, all her kitchen scraps go to making compost. And ash from her fire is used for washing dishes or scattered in her vegetable garden. Valuing the cycle of life.
The whole world loves jeans. But they're also all too often thrown away. Kawahara Takuya upcycles this discarded denim combining different textures and fading to create stylish clothes with a unique sensibility that's seen them grow in popularity. His indispensable partner, Yamasawa Ryoji, buys used jeans from overseas by the ton. Both men are denim devotees who are dedicated to rescuing and reusing what was thrown out, making it cooler than cool again.
Using discarded materials, Matsuba Tomi has brought a 200-year-old folk house back to life as an inn. Spring has come, and she gathers bamboo shoots for cooking and display, and fills an old baby carriage with freshly picked flowers, creating a touch of seasonal beauty from discarded things. It's a life of value for all things, and of fun. Her hope is that guests bring a bit of those values back with them when they return to the city, passing them on to the next generation.
In the mid-20th century, glass panes featuring patterns like chrysanthemums or cherry blossoms were popular in Japanese homes. As older houses are demolished such glass is often discarded, but artisan Koyakata Yoshikazu has found new uses for it. By cleaning and then reshaping the patterned panes he turns what was once waste into stylish tableware. The retro designs have earned quite a following, ensuring the charm of yesterday will be appreciated by the next generation.
Mori Yumi remakes old clothes with a sense of humor. And she's using her special flair to upcycle tents. Display models or those damaged in shipping must be disposed of, and Mori uses material from such tents to make bags and even jackets. Her designs take advantage of tents' durability and water resistance, but also their unique design elements to create something truly fashionable. To tell the truth, waste reduction isn't really Mori's goal, she simply loves making things.
Saito Masaya is one of the few artisans repairing stained glass in Japan. He removes the damaged sections, delicately replacing them one by one. Getting the same glass as the original is impossible, so Saito chooses the best alternative from his own collection. He also sometimes remakes the frames that hold the pieces he restores. He uses every tool at his disposal to bring it back to life. His passion for stained glass shines bright, illuminating future generations.
Many Japanese homes have beautifully decorated altars called "butsudan" where families pray to Buddha and their ancestors. Their construction involves several traditional crafts. But with changes in Japanese lifestyles, they're now less common. An artisan who makes them, Nakazawa Yukihiro, is repurposing techniques used in their production to turn discarded altars into accessories. Working with his family, he's found a new way to use his skills and preserve a piece of this Japanese tradition.
A shoe repair shop in Yokohama. Owner Murakami Rui repairs badly damaged shoes refused by other shops. Working with customer wishes in mind, he takes great care, disassembling and replacing damaged sections, reinforcing as needed, even going as far as to make new wooden forms. He aims to preserve the original feel, cherishing not just the shoes, but the memories they hold. He hopes their revived shoes will carry them far into the future. This is what drives his passion.
Kobe is known for bread. But unsold loaves spoil and must be discarded. Turning this waste into something different is Kobe-based artist Morita Yukiko. She adds LED lights and preserves it with long-lasted resin, producing lamps that stand the test of time. Lit from the inside, we see it literally in a new light. Even though it can no longer be eaten, she aims to illuminate what she calls, "its living beauty." And the inner glow she gives it is an expression of her love of bread.
Skateboarding is popular worldwide. But when skateboards get worn out, they become unsafe and have to be scrapped by their riders. In the hands of woodworker Anakubo, these old decks are reborn. Making the most of their multi-colored plywood layers, he shapes them into cool new accessories. And since Anakubo is a skater himself, he always keeps in mind how important those old decks were to their former riders as he does his work.
The subway, vital to city living. But after around 40 years, most Osaka Metro subway cars are scrapped. Thanks to two creators, a new upcycling project is underway. Designer Takayama Katsumi and bag maker Shinoda Eiji reuse material from gangways between cars and ring straps to make shoulder bags. Not just eco-friendly, worn by an adult, the strap is at waist height, perfect for a child to hold on to. For any kid who wishes they could reach the straps on the train, these bags are a dream come true.
Kamakura, a beautiful historic seaside town, has a garbage problem: seaweed that starts to smell if it isn't disposed of. Culinary researcher Yano Fukiko has come up with a use for it. She gathers, dries, grinds and feeds it to pigs. The meat produced is tender and rich in umami. What's more, disabled and elderly people living in the area are at the heart of Yano's project. The result of the hard work of many people, Kamakura seaweed pork has been very well received.
A beloved stuffed animal is irreplaceable. But over the years they suffer wear and tear, and the damage can be severe. The attachment their owners feel makes replacement out of the question. And so Hakozaki Natsumi opened her stuffed animal hospital. Carefully restoring what, for her clients, are members of the family, she calls what she does treatment, not repair. And she now helps restore patients sent in by people from all over the world.
Former pro skateboarder Shimizu Aoi set out to become an artist in his second life. As he searched for a medium to work in, he was caught by the jeans he once wore during practice. The denim's appealing color gradations and distinctive tears made it an ideal candidate material. He now uses it to make traditional Daruma dolls, Japanese symbols of good fortune. Using old jeans from his clients, Shimizu makes one-of-a-kind Daruma that they'll never want to let go.
Lumber that's too short or too narrow can be hard to sell. Offcuts are usually discarded or end up as woodchips. But Tanaka Ryosuke and Miyachi Yoh use them for furniture. Not big enough for large panels, multiple boards must be glued together, leading to uneven coloring. The answer, to dye the furniture with indigo, transforming each piece into a unified whole. This clever idea and their love of wood itself gives their work an inner beauty that's attracting real interest.
Chef Murota Takuto's restaurant is tucked away in a quiet corner of trend-setting Shibuya. Uniquely, he insists on using wild game, culled as so-called pests that can destroy crops or cause other harm. Wild game isn't mainstream in Japan, so as much as 90% goes to waste. He expresses his waste-not philosophy, using the bones and even the blood, as well as the meat, in his cooking. He believes that if we take a life, we owe that life a debt of respect. And his culinary creations are his way of repaying it.
Fashion designer Sawayanagi Naoshi uses only all-natural materials to make clothing that can be safely decomposed by microorganisms in the soil. His partner Hirota Takuya, who studied agriculture helped develop the ideal soil. Their brand is also unique because clothing is rented, not sold, ensuring it's returned when the wearer is done with it. Seeing clothes from beginning to end as they return to the earth is the heart of the pair's astonishing endeavor to reshape the fashion business.
"They're not trash cans, but resource bins," says Murakami Yuki. His love of making goes back to childhood. And at college he developed his own banana peel leather. Transforming garbage and scrap into useful materials – lampshades from coffee grounds or chairs from old receipts – his creations are unique, but they're also as biodegradable as possible, with minimal environmental impact. This sort of alchemy has earned praise and serious interest from industries facing issues surrounding waste.
Manicurist Arimoto Naomi makes colorful nail tips. But behind the beautiful patterns is plastic trash from nearby beaches. Fashion-inspired eco-consciousness is her goal. A former care worker, nine years ago, she lost the use of her legs due to illness. Choosing manicures as something she could do with just her hands; she works with the support of her family. Her husband helps collect the plastic, and her two daughters help break it down. Their love makes her creations shine even brighter.
Echizen City in Fukui Prefecture is a major center for washi paper production. There, papermaker Igarashi Masami created "Food Paper," combining produce like potatoes or onions – mainly discards and scraps from the food industry – with paper mulberry, the traditional material for washi. Her aim is to raise awareness of food loss using traditional crafts. The paper also reflects the natural color of the ingredients; another part of its appeal. It's a new page in the 1,500-year history of Echizen washi.
Ito Naofumi is a watchmaker in southwestern Japan. He's also a rather unusual artist. With old watch parts, he brings frogs, horses, dragonflies and other creatures to life, expressing a watchmaker's appreciation for the eternal beauty found inside a timepiece. People all over Japan send him worn out watches to use in his work. Both the senders and Ito himself believe it's a waste to throw away watches that once faithfully kept the time, and hope that they will live on as one-of-a-kind works of art.
A downtown Tokyo pencil maker offers a unique product. Clay made from sawdust. Working to find a way to make use of the waste generated in the pencil making process, current president, Sugimoto Ryuichi, developed the clay after years of trial and error. It feels just like ordinary clay, and the glue used as a binder is biodegradable, so it's eco-friendly. Better still, when it dries, it behaves just like wood. Child-safe, it's also popular with local childcare facilities.
Japan loves baseball! Many young people here dream of being a pro player. But baseball gear, particularly gloves that differ depending on the player's position, can be so costly that some players give up. Yonezawaya Tomohiro came up with a system to collect old gloves from all over the country, refurbish, and sell them at a lower price. Artisan Oki Satoshi, who handles the repairs, has helped to complete over 3,000 restorations, all so that any child who wants to can ... play ball!
Ibaraki Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, is home to verdant farmland. Seki Masafumi was born there. At the dyeing studio he runs with his wife Yuko, they use agricultural waste from the area, like pruned stems and leaves to make dye. The colors can be unpredictable, but that's part of the charm. In addition to reducing waste, the aim of their work is to promote local agriculture, always labeling products with the exact origin of the raw materials, hoping to give a boost to Ibaraki farmers.
Yamamoto Atsushi makes things with old bicycle parts. Tires, brakes, valve stems, many parts make up a bicycle, but they're difficult to reuse. Creating clever items like handbags made from innertubes, Yamamoto is a real bicycle lover. And that's why he couldn't simply watch as they were discarded. The work he does is both labor-intensive and time-consuming, but he sees it as his calling. And with steadfast determination, he moves forward one step at a time, just like riding a bicycle.
In this era of cheap, mass-produced products, Nihei Toru sells restored old furniture at his shop in a verdant mountain village north of Tokyo. Pieces that were in bad condition are brought back from the dead. But rather than aiming for good-as-new, he strives to preserve their vintage feel. His passion even extends to his own home—once abandoned and decaying—now tastefully restored. To him, bringing out the hidden charm of such seemingly worthless things far more than just a job, it's a way of life.
Yamaguchi Ayumu runs a small Tokyo distillery. He uses sake lees left over after brewing sake from rice. These often go to waste, but they impart a fruity aroma ideal for distilling into gin. Yamaguchi also uses other waste like coffee grounds and cacao husks—seemingly useless materials—that still have aroma to give. Producing fine liquors, Yamazaki gives value to what would otherwise be waste. As he puts it, "there's nothing in this world that's entirely worthless."
Culinary researcher Yokoyama Takako lives in a mountain region. She cans and ferments local produce to make it through the depths of winter; work supported by nature's bounty and ancestral wisdom.
Takasago Masami generates almost no plastic waste. Composting instead of plastic bags for food scraps, or doing dishes with a cloth instead of a disposable sponge; little ideas that are fun and easy.
Folk house innkeeper Matsuba Tomi hosts her grandchildren in summer. After playing in the garden, they help clean and rest under the mosquito net. An old-fashioned way of life forms precious memories.
Autumn at the folk house inn. Matsuba Tomi values all things. Welcoming guests with decorations of fallen ginkgo leaves, the nuts used for the evening meal; simple treasures with enduring appeal.
Artisan Takezawa Mutsumi's workshop lies at the foot of a mountain west of Tokyo. She makes pieces using leather from animals culled as pests, hides usually thrown away, but she gives them new life.
Artisan Matoba Kensho restores traditional dolls. Beyond cleaning, he repairs damage to faces. Well-cared-for dolls can last 100 years, so he hopes people bring them to him, and never discard them.
With a falling birthrate, school closures are on the rise in Japan, and things like desks and chairs have no place to go. Doi Kenji upcycles these discards into stylish and unique interior items.
At Yoshimura Mayu's atelier anyone can come in and make clothes. The materials are discards from industry and major brands. And working together leads to great ideas they couldn't come up with alone.
Judo instructor Sato Hitoe uses worn-out uniforms, or gis, to make items like tote bags; very durable, since the original material was meant to be tough. And behind it all is Sato's love for judo.
Some 20% of grown flowers for sale in Japan are discarded as substandard. Nakanishi Megumi uses them to make candles. Just like the flawed beauty of humanity, waste flowers, too, have a unique charm.
Maro Kuratani knits scarves and other items with surplus yarn, using threads of varying color and thickness. She says yarn is the ultimate eco-friendly material as reknitting is always an option.
Gardener Yamashita Rikito collects plants with nowhere to go—that must be removed for demolition or renovation—and finds them new homes; saving them while saving those who give them up from regret.
Chiba Prefecture is known for peanuts. Area leather goods seller Iijima Satoshi uses discarded peanut skins from local farmers to make synthetic leather that's eco-friendly, durable and very versatile.
Trash Tribe is a band led by Oomote Fumiaki. Their instruments are made with marine trash. Fishing line and driftwood on strings. Plastic bottle percussion. Their laid-back music has fans of all ages.
Nakajima Deco is obsessed with finding ways to live a waste-free life. Diners at her cafe are served vegetables—peels, leaves and all—conveying the value of life through her cooking.
With even slight damage, wedding dresses often have to be discarded. Nogami Yuko uses these for upcycling. Bringing happiness from one bride to another; remade better than new.
A popular tourist train in Kyushu's Takachiho area is powered by fuel made from leftover ramen soup! Starting from zero, trucking company owner Nishida Masumi developed his own biodiesel.
Fish that overconsume seaweed, often called pests. A strong odor also makes them hard to sell. Kanazawa Ryuji uses these to make a distinctive fish sauce, so that no life from the sea goes to waste.
Unsellable substandard produce becomes soap thanks to farmer Harada Yuko. She hopes her work will change how people see fruits and vegetables, so that none of them will ever go to waste.
