Kintsugi, ikebana, woodcraft and more: on 17 October, the Manifesto at Potsdamer Platz will become the hub for Japanese crafts in Berlin. You can look forward to workshops, a craft market and a programme of stage performances!
At this event, Berlin-based makers and artisans from Japan will come together at Manifesto for a day! They’ll demonstrate traditional techniques, often passed down through generations, and share the stories behind their work.
Image gallery
Craftkai Japanese Festival
In the Japanese craft workshops, you’ll learn directly from the professionals: you’ll repair ceramics using kintsugi, dye fabrics with plants, create ikebana arrangements, work with gold leaf or carve your own chopsticks. Shintaro Oku, who is travelling here specially from Kagoshima, will guide you through the chopstick carving. You’ll take your finished piece home with you.
At the Craft Market, you’ll discover handmade ceramics, selected Japanese teas, silk accessories, jewellery and unique one-off pieces – no booking required. The stage programme rounds off the day. Byōbu artist Benjamin Gordon offers insights into the rare art of Japanese folding screens; in a hands-on challenge, you can try your hand at the traditional hand plane; and contemporary dance and live music from artists from Tokyo and Iwate will entertain you into the evening.
Dates
October 2026
| Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
| |||
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
