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The twelfth and thirteenth generations facing each other in the Gindendo workshop
Craft — Silversmithing

Silver Chasing with a 13th-Generation Workshop

A framed silver panel chased with a rooster
A silver vessel inlaid with gold
A maker's hands working with hammer and chisel
The twelfth and thirteenth generations talking in the workshop

The Craft

Chased silverwork shapes and textures silver entirely by hand, using small hammers and chisels to raise a design from the back of the metal — a technique refined in Japan over centuries, now practiced by only a small number of full-time workshops.

The Artisan

Gindendo is a family silver workshop now spanning its 12th and 13th generations, working from the same room where the craft has been passed down — not a studio staged for visitors, but the place the family actually works every day.

What Makes It Different

Most visitors see chasing through glass, if at all. Here, the 13th generation guides your own hands through the technique, while the 12th generation is present for a rare, unscripted conversation between the two.

The Experience

Inside a workshop now in its 12th and 13th generations, watch — and then try — the chased silverwork technique behind pieces like the framed rooster panel above, its feathers raised in silver and warmed with gold. This is not a demonstration for tour groups; it is the same tatami room where the family actually works, opened to you for a single private day.

  • Hands-on chasing practice under the direct guidance of the 13th-generation maker
  • A rare conversation between the 12th and 13th generations about what carries forward and what changes
  • Close viewing of finished pieces not normally shown outside the workshop
  • Entirely private — no other guests, paced around you
Discover Behind the scenes — Gindendo
Itinerary

This Is a Sample Itinerary

Sample, not a fixed schedule Shown to illustrate the kind of layered day we build, not a fixed schedule. Exact timing is confirmed only after a private consultation.

Here's how the day typically unfolds, from pickup to drop-off.

  1. Hotel pickup by an English-speaking guide, who stays with you for the visit
  2. Private introduction from the 13th generation, seated in the workshop shown above
  3. Hands-on chasing practice on your own trial piece
  4. Seasonal lunch, served on the workshop's own silverware
  5. Close viewing of finished silverwork with the 12th generation, and conversation between the two
  6. Dinner nearby can be arranged afterwards, if you would like the day to continue
  7. Private transfer back to your hotel

What a Day Like This Would Include

Private introduction & guidance from the 13th generation
Hands-on chasing materials and your trial piece
English-speaking guide throughout the visit
Seasonal lunch, served on the workshop's own silverware
Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Tokyo
Dinner arrangement afterwards, if requested
Not included: transportation beyond central Tokyo, personal purchases
Enquire →

Meet Your Artisan & What to Know

Gindendo, thirteenth generation
Gindendo 12th & 13th-generation silver workshop Read the full story on Our Masters →

The 13th generation trained under his father from childhood, learning to read a design not by eye but by the resistance of the hammer against silver. Today the two generations work the same tatami room side by side — one still setting the standard, the other beginning to set his own. Guests who spend the day here often say the conversation between them is as memorable as the craft itself.

Their Work
A framed silver panel chased with a rooster
A silver vessel inlaid with gold
  • Shoes come off before stepping onto the tatami — slippers are provided.
  • Photographing the workshop and finished pieces is welcome; please ask before photographing the family directly.
  • Tools and half-finished work are handled by the family only, unless you're specifically invited to try.
  • Casual, comfortable clothing is fine — this is a working room, not a formal tea room.
  • The session is entirely private, so there's no need to hurry — questions and conversation are part of the day.

About This Experience

Do I need any experience with metalwork?

No prior experience is needed — the day is designed for complete beginners, with the 13th generation guiding every step of the chasing practice.

Can I take home what I make?

Yes, your practice piece is yours to keep. Finished workshop pieces themselves are not for sale during the visit.

Can I join if I don't speak Japanese?

Yes — an English-speaking guide is present throughout, and the 12th and 13th generation are used to working with international guests.

How many people can join?

The workshop is entirely private for your party — no other guests are hosted during your visit.