The revival of Mokume-gane as an artform is an inspiring example of how the dedication and devotion to a craft through relentless experimentation and education can bring it back from obscurity. Mokume-gane is now extensively documented with readily available resources demonstrating the process, and is taught within and outside of Japan, enabling a new generation of artists to now inherit and innovate within the craft. 

Mokume-gane nearly disappeared in Japan in the 1900s as the reforms in the Meiji period led to its decline in production. In this article we explore the turbulent history of Mokume-gane and how it was brought back from the brink of extinction in the late 1970s.