Visit the studio of a craftsman who found his calling in carving wood statues of Buddhist icons

Details

• Private experience

• Location: Mikage-cho, Kanazawa, Ishikawa

• 1.5 hours

• 6 people max. Minimum of 2 participants required. (Solo guests may book at the price of 2 participants)

• Offered in Japanese, with friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in English
  (French/German/Spanish interpretation may be available upon request)

With devotion and a sense of responsibility,

Born in Chiba Prefecture, Toshiharu describes his work in Buddhist iconography as a life calling. Toshiharu followed that calling by apprenticing with an iconography master for several years before opening his own atelier. With devotion and a sense of responsibility, he meticulously carves custom Buddhist images at the request of individuals and temples. The splendor of his work is revealed not only through the sculpture itself, but also through the heartfelt memories of a decedent’s family members or the prayers of temple worshippers the sculpture invokes. Despite rapid mechanization of icon production, Toshiharu is committed to the personalized handwork of crafting each image one stroke at a time. Visit Toshiharu’s atelier for yourself, see the subtly unique facial expressions of each individual image, and feel the devotion that went into them all.

What you’ll do

Learn about the history and philosophy of Buddhist icon production and then watch a demonstration, see the production process, and take a studio tour by Toshiharu.

Who can attend

Children must be 7+

Availability

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
Session 1 (10:00 - 11:30)
Session 2 (13:00 - 14:30)
Session 3 (14:30 - 16:00)
Session 4 (16:00 - 17:30)

Access

10 min taxi ride from Kanazawa station.

What else you should know

• If your nails are too long, they might damage the wood. Please note that you may not be able to participate in part of the program.

Cancellation Policy

Please make your booking at least 5 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.
* A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.