We are excited to announce the next maki-e workshops and urushi seminars scheduled for this summer. Swipe through the carousel for dates/times of each event.
Tickets for the @dcpenshow seminar and workshop are now available on our website (or links in bio) Seats are limited, so please book quickly to secure your spot!
(For the Kyuseido events held at the @dutchpenshow and @stationery.fest , check out their respective websites for tickets.)
More information about the maki-e workshop and seminar can be found on the "Events" page on our website.
About the Workshop:
The workshop will introduce you to maki-e, a form of urushi craft that combines natural urushi lacquer with metal powder to create a design. In the end, you will take your maki-e creation home together with a curated kit of tools and materials for your own future projects.
About the Seminar:
In this seminar, you will learn more about the history and techniques of urushi craftsmanship and what it means to work with this lacquer in current times.
Curious about the world of Urushi? Don’t miss the two-hour seminar, The Art of Urushi, led by Sophia Ma, an inspiring opportunity to deepen your understanding of this traditional craft.
Sponsored by Kyuseido
With over 7000-8000 years of history, the world of urushi is invariably deep and complex, and has been developed into an important traditional craft that is still used today. Urushi has been applied to fountain pens for 100 years and its popularity is continuing to grow. Much of the information regarding urushi is still difficult to obtain outside of Japan and yet internationally there has been more people interested in learning about this craft.
If you would like to learn more about the history and techniques involved in urushi work, we welcome you to join us in this seminar where we discuss what it means to work with urushi in current times.
Please join us as we cover the following topics:
* What is urushi and it’s artistic & cultural significance
* Basic understanding of the primary urushi styles and their history
* How to distinguish good quality urushi work
* The value of protecting the urushi artform
About the Speaker:
Sophia (Urushi Notes) is a urushi and maki-e artist based in Hong Kong. She began to practice the art of urushi in 2022 on a self guided basis before taking formal maki-e lessons at Maki-e School Ginza under Matsuda Shokan in Tokyo in 2024.
The event will be held in English on Saturday June 6, at 10:30h – 12:30h. The cost for this activity is €15 (incl. vat).
Just a heads-up: you can attend this event with a regular ticket, no early entrance ticket required!
🎫Tickets are available now!
Are you planning to sign up for this seminar?👇
Thank you everyone who joined our very first Maki-e workshop at the 2026 Manila Pen Show!
As a continuation of our “Art of Urushi” Seminar last year, we were excited to launch our hands-on workshops for people to experience. We hope it gave participants a greater understanding of the artistry behind Maki-e.
We also wish to thank the amazing workshop team (Lorraine, Ronin, and Dana) who helped with organising the workshop logistics, and the volunteers who worked tirelessly to help out during both days of the pen show. The workshops would not have gone so smoothly without your assistance during the entire process. Also many thanks to @sushi.plans for taking such great care of us during the show!
We are also excited to bring both this workshop and the seminar to Europe at the @dutchpenshow in June. See you all there!
We’re excited to introduce a unique and exclusive workshop: Painting with Powder, a beginner-friendly Japanese Maki-e experience led by Sophia Ma @urushi.notes .
Sponsored by @kyuseido
Have you ever wondered what is the magic behind creating a Maki-e fountain pen? Then this beginner friendly workshop is the perfect chance to learn more about the origins of the art of Urushi and Maki-e! In this workshop, we will introduce you to Maki-e, a form of Urushi craft that involves the combination of natural Urushi and metal powder to create your own work of art.
In this 3 hour workshop you will learn about the core concepts of Maki-e and will experience applying a simple design on a plate with urushi using a fine brush. You will get to choose from an assortment of coloured powder to customise your design and, by the end of the workshop, will take your maki-e creations home together with a curated Maki-e kit to continue future projects of your own!
About the Instructor:
Sophia (@urushi.notes ) is a urushi and maki-e artist based in Hong Kong. She began to practice the art of urushi in 2022 on a self guided basis before taking formal maki-e lessons at Maki-e School Ginza under Matsuda Shokan in Tokyo in 2024.
Disclaimer:
We will use genuine urushi lacquer. While safe when cured, uncured urushi may cause skin allergies. Gloves are provided, and risk is low with proper handling. By joining, you acknowledge this risk. Please be cautious if you have severe reactions to urushiol, poison ivy, or poison oak.
You will take home a complete Maki-e kit including:
* 1 Tube of Maki-e Urushi
* Two Maki-e brushes
* Maki-e metal powders
* Maki-e urushi plate
* Display stand
The event will be held in English on Saturday June 6, at 14:30h – 17:30h. The cost for this activity is €350 (incl. vat).
🎫Tickets are available now!
Are you planning to sign up for this workshop?👇
What makes Maki-e different from other urushi lacquer art?
Join our beginner Maki-e workshop at the 2026 Manila Pen Show to learn more and experience creating your own Maki-e art. Sign up now to secure your spot!
You can sign up for our workshop through the QR code, visiting the link in bio, or our website where more details can be found!
“Maki-e,” which means “sprinkled picture,” is an artform with a 1000-year old legacy. It is revered for its aesthetics, and cultural significance, earning its status from the government as a “National Treasure” of Japan.
To create maki-e, artists paint designs by sprinkling metal powders over wet urushi lacquer. After curing, the metal is then polished to bring out its luster and beauty.
Workshop dates and time:
Session 1:
Saturday, 28 March 2026 WORKSHOP ROOM 1
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Session 2:
Sunday, 29 March 2026 WORKSHOP ROOM 1
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
#manilapenshow2026
What’s Inside Our Maki-e Kit?
2026 Manila Pen Show Workshop Sessions:
Our Early Bird pricing ends on the 15th of March! Don’t miss this chance to sign up before the offer ends on Sunday.
Sign up at the link in bio, the Kyuseido website, https://bit.ly/3P0zOr9 or the QR code in the last slide.
Session 1:
Saturday, 28 March 2026 WORKSHOP ROOM 1
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Session 2:
Sunday, 29 March 2026 WORKSHOP ROOM 1
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Venue:
Workshop room 1 SAMPIRO
Our beginner Maki-e Kit includes all the essential materials needed to create your very own maki-e art. We have several template options, or you can create your own simple design during the class. No prior experience with art is needed!
At the end of this workshop, you will be able to take back the Maki-e kit to create your own designs at home!
Learn more about the workshop on our Kyuseido website https://bit.ly/3P0zOr9 , or visit the link in bio.
We hope to see you there!
#manilapenshow2026
Painting with Powder: A Beginner’s Maki-e Experience
2026 Manila Pen Show Workshop Sessions:
Early Bird pricing ends on the 15th of March! Sign up at the link in bio, the @kyuseido website, https://bit.ly/3P0zOr9 before the early bird offer ends.
Session 1:
Saturday, 28 March 2026 WORKSHOP ROOM 1
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Session 2:
Sunday, 29 March 2026 WORKSHOP ROOM 1
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Venue:
Workshop room 1 SAMPIRO
What will you learn in our Maki-e workshop? Join us at the @manilapenshow to experience the timeless art of Maki-e!
Maki-e is a traditional Japanese art using urushi lacquer and metal powders to create designs. The use of Maki-e on fountain pens dates back almost 100 years, when Pilot Namiki first created designs on their own fountain pens.
Sophia @urushi.notes will guide you through the fundamental techniques of Maki-e – from transferring patterns to painting with urushi lacquer. You will learn how to use a variety of metal powders to create your own designs!
At the end of this workshop, you will be able to take back the Maki-e kit to create your own designs at home!
Learn more about the workshop on our website @kyuseido , or visit the link in bio to sign up.
We are looking forward to meeting everyone! #manilapenshow2026
Sign up link can be found in bio, or kyuseidotokyo .com! https://bit.ly/3P0zOr9
Hi, it’s Sophia from Urushi Notes!
I am excited to lead an immersive Hira Maki-e workshop for @kyuseido at the @manilapenshow !
📅 Date and time:
Session 1:
Saturday, 28 March 2026 WORKSHOP ROOM 1
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Session 2:
Sunday, 29 March 2026 WORKSHOP ROOM 1
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
We welcome participants of all ages and no prior experience with urushi is needed.
If you ever wondered what’s the magic behind creating Maki-e fountain pens, you are welcome to join our workshop where we demonstrate how to combine urushi lacquer with coloured metal powder to create simple designs. If you join us, you will get the opportunity to become an urushi artist yourself, creating your own maki-e design!
At the end of class, we will send you home with your lacquerware, as well as a curated set of tools and materials for future projects.
You can sign up for our workshop through the QR code in the video, visiting the link in bio, or the Kyuseido website where more details can be found.
Feel free to ask if you have further questions.
Remember to sign up before the 15th of March to enjoy our early bird pricing! We hope to see you there!
#manilapenshow2026
AMA Ask Me Anything: Urushi and Maki-e
Hi everyone, this is Sophia from Urushi Notes! I am really excited to be attending the @manilapenshow together with @kyuseido this year.
In preparation for Manila, we thought this would be a good opportunity to hold an AMA (ask me anything) about everything urushi and maki-e related. Feel free to ask in the comments below any question you’d like about these art forms or our upcoming workshop. We hope to provide you with greater insight into the traditional craft of Japanese lacquer.
If you would like to experience using urushi, we welcome you to join our hands-on experience with our Hira Maki-e Workshop. You will get to create your own Maki-e plate and take home a curated set of tools and materials for future projects. More details can be found on the Kyuseido website!
Link : https://bit.ly/3P0zOr9 or visit the link in bio!
Even if you can’t join our workshop, we always welcome you to stop by our Kyuseido table at the Manila Pen Show. I’ll be there to answer any further questions.
We are looking forward to meeting everyone at the show!
#manilapenshow2026
Hydrangeas have been represented in Japanese art as far back as the Nara period where it was referenced in the Man'yōshū, which is the oldest Japanese collection of waka poetry. Over time, hydrangeas have come to represent sincerity, heartfelt emotions, gratitude, and apology. While this genus of flowers are native across Asia and the Americas, it is believed that Japan was one of the first nations to cultivate this plant, with now 70-80 variants that are grown in the country.
This is a limited edition of only 9 pens made in collaboration with @urushi.notes Do not miss out on seeing this in person from the 20th-22nd February at the 2026 California Pen Show! @capenshow
