Too often overlooked or poorly applied, this stage nevertheless remains essential in the practice of kintsugi. Indispensable to the final aesthetic of the piece, it is a crucial moment—often little known—that can be repeated as many times as necessary to achieve perfection. In kintsugi, we generally celebrate the brilliance of gold, that light which highlights the fracture and reveals the beauty born from the wound. But before the gold comes the time of filling.

These ancient techniques, often unfamiliar to the general public, embody a rich craftsmanship infused with poetry and aesthetic reflection. They bear evocative names such as Tomotsugi, Yobitsugi, and Tametsugi.

Yobitsugi repairs broken ceramics by adding fragments from other objects. Finding a perfectly fitting piece is rare.