Talk Session: Gyokusendo x Tazen - Hammering Copper, Connecting to the Future

About this event

On Sunday, September 20, 2026, a talk session will be held at the Tsubame Industrial Materials Museum in Niigata Prefecture, featuring Motoyuki Gyokusendo, the 7th generation head of Gyokusendo Co., Ltd., which has manufactured and sold Tsubame hammered copperware for over 200 years, and Zen Tanaka, the 19th generation head of Tazen Co., Ltd., which carries on copper techniques and culture in Sendai. In this talk session, the current heads of these two workshops—who have continuously engaged with copper beyond regional and technical differences—will discuss themes such as the appeal and potential of copper as a material, how to preserve and adapt history and tradition, connections between long-established workshops and local communities, and initiatives to pass on copper craft to the next generation. It is a valuable opportunity to hear about how to face the changes of the times while preserving tradition and connecting to the future. The event is scheduled to start at 2:00 PM and end at 3:30 PM. The venue is the Multi-Purpose Hall in the New Wing of the Tsubame Industrial Materials Museum, with a capacity of 80 people. Participation is free, but the admission fee for the Tsubame Industrial Materials Museum is required separately. Prior application is required as reservations take priority.

Venue

Tsubame Industrial Materials Museum

4330-1 Omagari, Tsubame, Niigata 959-1263