On New Year’s Day 2024, a massive magnitude-7.6 earthquake struck Ishikawa and Noto, Japan. As reconstruction efforts continued, torrential rains in September severely stalled recovery. Then, that Christmas—the first since the disaster—an interactive tree called “Kintsugi Tsugiki” was installed at Tokyo Station, inspired by the art of kintsugi to keep the memory of what happened in Ishikawa and Noto alive.

Kintsugi is a traditional craft from Ishikawa in which broken or chipped items are repaired using lacquer and gold powder, giving them new beauty and value.

With the theme of "JAPAN CRAFT," Tokyo Midtown Yaesu, a commercial facility directly connected to Tokyo Station, launched this project as part of its annual event, "MIDTOWN YAESU CHRISTMAS 2024," turning the spotlight to the philosophy behind kintsugi.

Much like the art of kintsugi, which restores broken things and breathes new value into them, the installation represents a connection between Tokyo—Japan's transportation hub—and the disaster-affected area of Noto in Ishikawa. Through this tree, we hoped to cast a symbolic light on the ongoing recovery efforts.

In its design, the installation uses both Ishikawa and Tokyo wood, structured to reflect the kintsugi aesthetic of joining separate elements into a cohesive whole. The wood from Ishikawa was reclaimed from homes that collapsed during the earthquake, with support from Noto Fukko Lab, an organization leading reconstruction. Tokyo wood forms the trunk, while Ishikawa wood shapes the branches. Lighting effects flow from the base to the tips of the branches, visually representing the transmission of light—and hope—from Tokyo to Ishikawa.

When a hand is held over the sensor, golden light flows throughout the tree, linking each part as if restoring it with kintsugi, accompanied by ethereal music that transforms the atmosphere and touches the hearts of those present. Many homes collapsed and turned to rubble due to the earthquake, yet they still hold the memories and stories of their owners. Rather than simply disposing of these materials, many people wish to preserve them and pass them on to future caretakers. However, awareness of how to repurpose these old materials and the existence of organizations that rescue them remains limited.

This installation shed light on such heartfelt wishes and practical methods for utilizing reclaimed materials, playing a vital role in connecting Tokyo with the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture and supporting ongoing recovery efforts.

In collaboration with kintsugi artist Kunio Nakamura, who also restores earthquake-damaged pottery, workshops allowed visitors to experience kintsugi, with proceeds donated to support the region’s recovery.

Furthermore, the structure of “Kintsugi Tsugiki” was designed without the use of adhesives, allowing it to be dismantled and reused as reclaimed wood. The intention was for the timber used in the installation to be passed on once again as reclaimed material.