Mokume gane is a special metalworking technique that originated in Japan. In addition to the variation of metals used, the addition of metal coloring, metal engraving, and twisting processes expand the number of ways of expression to an infinite number of ways. Over its 400-year history, numerous methods have been tried and tested, and the techniques have continued to accumulate. The passion of the craftsmen is packed into the limited space.

Mokume gane is all handmade by craftsmen, and no two patterns are the same.

The cherry blossoms along the Yoshino River and the autumn leaves along the Tatsuta River are representative of the beauty of Japan, and have been written about since ancient times in poems such as Manyoshu (Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves). They have also been featured as motifs in many paintings and crafts. The master swordsmith Takahashi Okitsugu, who was an expert in mokume gane, combined his advanced techniques with a rich expressive power to reproduce beautiful scenes with the mokume gane technique, creating timeless masterpieces.

In a sense, it is inevitable that Japanese beauty and techniques originating in Japan go hand in hand, as Japanese craftsmen have long projected the aesthetic beauty of nature into their creations with a delicate sense of beauty. Many of Mokumeganeya's works also feature designs based on nature motifs.

Take a look at our jewelry with nature motifs

This is the oldest existing mokume gane work created by Shoami Denbei of Dewa Akita (present-day Akita Prefecture), who developed the technique of guribori. In 2005, Masaki Takahashi, president of Mokumeganeya, attempted to restore this oldest yet most elegant mokume gane piece.

Through this restoration work, Takahashi realized firsthand that the intricate and graceful patterns of mokume gane are created by the skill of craftsmen who manipulate chance into inevitability. It is only when the creator's intentions are reflected in every detail that the work becomes an irreplaceable piece of art.

Many customers who visit Mokumeganeya have a series of meetings with the store's concierge, who acts as a bridge to the craftsmen, to create a custom-made design. Each of these designs reflects the intentions of the "creator, as well as those of the customer," down to the smallest detail.

Take a look at the jewelry with Shoami Denbei patterns