Yoshitsugu Kamikawa

Nisshin Kikinzoku

Silversmith

©Nisshin Kikinzoku

Silverwork to be used and cherished

Yoshitsugu is the 12th generation silversmith at the workshop he runs
Recycled silver has traditionally been used for silverwork in Japan
He considers the smoked-looking patina on silver to be a reflection of care for the object

Yoshitsugu Kamikawa is master silversmith at Nisshin Kikinzoku silversmithing workshop in Taito ward, a historical area in Tokyo for shiroganeshi (silversmiths) who have collectively continued the craft for over 300 years. Yoshitsugu, whose artist name is Sōhaku, is a 12th generation silversmith and the company director. As a spokesman for traditional Japanese crafts and local culture, he hosts workshops at his atelier where one can experience silver crafting. He also collaborates with domestic and worldwide customers to repurpose and customise jewellery and household items. Using traditional inlaying, hammering, forging techniques and gold leafing, Yoshitsugu creates silverware with utility and design sensibility for the modern life, made to be passed on to future generations.

Where

Interview

©Nisshin Kikinzoku

©Nisshin Kikinzoku

What defines your creations?: 'The beauty of use' is something crucial to me. A piece should not only be beautiful when acquired, but fit into one’s hand. Caring for the item by polishing it creates an attachment to the piece over time. Polished to shine, it can even be used for formal occasions. Our silverware is made to last.
What techniques do you use?: Traditional hammering, moulding, hammered inlay technique, and haute couture production. I use traditional techniques to create each piece uniquely, making sure the texture is flat and smooth by hand, whereas a machine can only produce a rough shape.
What inspires you to create your works?: The possibilities of my craft are constantly expanding by exchanging ideas with artisans of different fields and with customers. I particularly enjoy when I have an idea for a potentially useful product that happens to match a customer’s specific needs. This is actually how new products are born.
Do you feel responsible about passing on your craft to the next generation?: Yes. The average age of silversmiths in the industry in Japan is 60 years old. With the economic burden of the 2020 pandemic, in addition to the physical burden of precision tasks in silverware production, silversmithing does not easily attract younger generations.

Yoshitsugu Kamikawa is a master artisan: he began his career in 1993 and he started teaching in 2009