Kintsugi: Recognizing Beauty in Brokenness

Name: Kintsugi: Recognizing Beauty in Brokenness
Start: 2026-09-27
End: 2026-10-02
Location: Montreat Conference Center

Certificate in Spiritual Formation

September 27–October 2, 2026 AdultContinuing Education

This event is hosted by Columbia Theological Seminary

You are invited to taste the first Eastern Asian Art and Spirituality event. Through hands-on practice, guided activities, and contemplative exercises, you’ll explore how brokenness can become beauty and how your own imperfections can be honored rather than hidden. This is an invitation to healing, mindfulness, and transformation—one golden seam at a time.

Kintsugi, a centuries-old Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer and gold, offers a profound metaphor for acceptance and healing. Just as pottery breaks, we do too, and as pottery can be mended with care and appreciation, our wounds and imperfections can become sources of wisdom, leading to new perspectives and beauty—openings to something more meaningful and profound. The restoration process of Kintsugi also teaches us to cherish what we have and promotes sustainability in a consumption-driven world.

Guided by Dr. Takamiya, a master restorer and professor from a premier Japanese arts university, participants will explore the history, philosophy, and techniques of Kintsugi. All workshops will be translated by a professional interpreter.

What to Bring

Each participant is required to bring an item made out of pottery or porcelain to be restored using the kintsugi technique.

There are three types of acceptable damage:

1.Broken into parts

The piece may be broken into up to three separate pieces (joined with visible cracks after repair.)
Broken parts (called Ware in Japanese) are acceptable.

2. Chipped pieces

Small chips are acceptable, as long as each chip is ceramic and measures no more than 2cm x 2cm (0.79 inch x 0.79 inch).
Chips may include:
- Kake; larger crack with missing part
- Hotsu; small chips that often occur around the edge

3. Cracks without full breakage

A piece that has visible cracks but hasn’t completely broken apart is also acceptable. These cracks (called Nyu) will be sealed and highlighted with lacquer and gold.

See examples of these types of damage here.

Please also bring an apron, or wear clothing suitable for artwork, as the process can get a little messy.

For questions about the course content, please contact asakoakai@gmail.com.

Program Fee: $550.00 (including materials fee)

Housing & Meals: Information about housing and meals below.

Leadership

YoKo Takamiya

YoKo Takamiya, Ph.D. graduated from Tama Art University Graduate School of Sculpture (Master of Fine Arts) and Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Fine Arts, Department of Conservation and Restoration Technology (Master of Fine Arts, Doctor of Fine Arts). She teaches sculpture, crafts, and cultural property preservation at many universities, including Tama Art University, Tokyo University of the Arts, Tamagawa University, and Jissen Women's University, while also working on cultural art restoration outside of the universities, and holds Kintsugi classes for a wide range of students at lifelong learning centers and culture centers. She is also a curator, and her activities are wide-ranging, including restoring cultural properties and her art activities. She is one of Japan's leading cultural restoration experts, who conveys the long art history while teaching the importance of preserving art using restoration techniques.

Housing & Meals Rates

Housing and meals must be purchased separately from your conference registration. Rates are per person and include all room and meal charges for the entire conference (Sunday supper to Friday breakfast). No adjustments to package will be made.

Individual meals may be purchased with an advance reservation. For meal reservations, please contact the front desk of Assembly Inn at 828-419-9844. Deadline to purchase meals is Thursday, August 27th.

Double Occupancy$995.00/total
$497.50/person

Private bath, Single Occupancy	$785.00
Private bath, Double Occupancy	$497.50
Shared Bath, Single Occupancy	$710.00

If you have any questions about housing and meal reservations, please email justinkp@montreat.org.

Check in/Check out Times

Housing Check in	4 pm, Sunday, September 27, 2026
Housing Check out	10 am Friday, October 2, 2026

Refund Policy

Cancellations must be received by Thursday, August 13, 2026 in order to receive a full refund, less a $75 administrative fee. Cancellations received between Friday, August 14 and Friday, August 28, 2026 will receive a 50% refund of the conference fee and any payments made toward room and meal charges (if applicable), less a $75 administrative fee. No refunds will be issued for cancellations received on or after Friday, August 28, 2026. All requests must be made in writing and received via email, fax, or U.S. mail.