You are invited to taste the first Eastern Asian Art and Spirituality event at the Center for Lifelong Learning. Through hands-on practice, guided activities, and contemplative exercises, you'll explore how brokenness can become beauty and how your own imperfections can be honored rather than hidden. This is an invitation to healing, mindfulness, and transformation—one golden seam at a time.

 

Kintsugi, a centuries-old Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer and gold, offers a profound metaphor for acceptance and healing. Just as pottery breaks, we do too, and as pottery can be mended with care and appreciation, our wounds and imperfections can become sources of wisdom, leading to new perspectives and beauty—openings to something more meaningful and profound. The restoration process of Kintsugi also teaches us to cherish what we have and promotes sustainability in a consumption-driven world.

 

Guided by Dr. Takamiya, a master restorer and professor from a premier Japanese arts university, participants will explore the history, philosophy, and techniques of Kintsugi through both virtual and in-person sessions. All workshops will be translated by professional interpreter.

 

This four-day event includes two Tai Chi sessions led by a Tai Chi master, along with morning and evening meditation and reflection times. It offers a contemplative space to embrace life's fractures and uncover the hidden beauty within them.

 

Examples of kintsugi artwork can be viewed here.

 

Pictures of previous kintsugi classes can be viewed here.

 

Harrington Center at Columbia Theological Seminary, 701 S Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA 30030

YoKo Takamiya, Ph.D. graduated from Tama Art University Graduate School of Sculpture (Master of Fine Arts) and Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Fine Arts, Department of Conservation and Restoration Technology (Master of Fine Arts, Doctor of Fine Arts). She teaches sculpture, crafts, and cultural property preservation at many universities, including Tama Art University, Tokyo University of the Arts, Tamagawa University, and Jissen Women's University, while also working on cultural art restoration outside of the universities, and holds Kintsugi classes for a wide range of students at lifelong learning centers and culture centers. She is also a curator, and her activities are wide-ranging, including restoring cultural properties and her art activities. She is one of Japan's leading cultural restoration experts, who conveys the long art history while teaching the importance of preserving art using restoration techniques.  

Examples of Dr. Takamiya's work: HERE

 

Asako Akai Ferguson works a multifaceted cross-cultural consultant and Japanese-English interpreter/translator, with a background as an editor and writer for Japanese publishing. Passionate about building bridges between people and ideas, Asako uses language, storytelling, and cultural insight to promote mutual understanding and peaceful global dialogue.

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, and will be followed by dinner at 5:30 and the first session at 6:30. The course will end at noon on March 7, 2026 with a to-go lunch.

$1,150, which includes a nonrefundable $300 deposit. All balances are due February 4, 2026. Cancelations must be received before February 18, 2026, to receive a refund of the program fee minus the deposit.

 

On-campus housing is available Tuesday through Saturday. Queen suites are $112.32 per night, and twin suites (two twin beds, one person per room) are $99.36 per night. All rooms come with linens and a private bathroom.

 

Meals will be provided from dinner on Wednesday through lunch on Saturday.

 

1. Broken into parts

• The piece may be broken into up to three separate pieces (joined with visible cracks after repair.)
• Broken parts (called Ware in Japanese) are acceptable.

2. Chipped pieces

• Small chips are acceptable, as long as each chip is ceramic and measures no more than 2cm x 2cm (0.79 inch x 0.79 inch).
• Chips may include:
  • Kake; larger crack with missing part
  • Hotsu; small chips that often occur around the edge

3. Cracks without full breakage

• A piece that has visible cracks but hasn't completely broken apart is also acceptable. These cracks (called Nyu) will be sealed and highlighted with lacquer and gold.

 

Registration will close two weeks prior to March 4, 2026, or when registration has reached maximum capacity. Day-of registrations are not permitted.

 

For questions about registration or for technical assistance, email lifelonglearning@ctsnet.edu. For qusetions about the course content, please contact asakoakai@gmail.com.