HAKUZA

Kanazawa Gold Leaf／HAKUZA
The beauty of gold leaf that simply “exists.”



About HAKUZA

About a century ago, the story of HAKUZA began when a master craftsman of gold beating founded the Takaoka Gold Leaf Shop. Later, the company started producing “En-tsuke Kinpaku” — hand-beaten gold leaf made using Japan’s traditional method.
Their guiding philosophy is to “build a future where gold leaf simply exists.”
While contributing to the restoration of national treasures and important cultural properties, HAKUZA has continued to preserve the traditional techniques of Kanazawa gold leaf, sharing its quiet radiance with contemporary audiences in new and meaningful ways.
En-tsuke Kinpaku is a uniquely Japanese technique with over 400 years of history — officially recognized by the government as a Selected Conservation Technique essential for cultural heritage restoration.
In this process, handmade ganpi paper is used as the beating paper for gold leaf.
Through a meticulous half-year preparation using natural materials — water, straw ash lye, persimmon tannin, and even egg whites — artisans create paper capable of enduring the delicate process of beating gold to its thinnest possible form.
Even as production shifted from hand-beating to mechanical processes, the spirit and core techniques of this tradition remain unchanged, passed down with unwavering precision.
In the spring of 2023, HAKUZA launched a new initiative called “HAKU WORKS.”
This project shines light on the presence, meaning, and potential of gold leaf — exploring new, undiscovered expressions of gold through collaborations with diverse materials, spaces, and contemporary design.
Rooted in tradition yet ever-evolving with the times,
HAKUZA’s gold leaf connects beauty from the past to the future — a truly Japanese art of brilliance.


Kanazawa Gold Leaf

1/10,000 millimeter thin — Japan’s art of golden light.
Kanazawa gold leaf represents approximately 98% of Japan’s total gold leaf production, standing as one of the country’s most renowned traditional crafts.
With over 400 years of history, it has adorned tea utensils, Buddhist altars, architectural interiors, and paintings — supporting Japan’s aesthetic heritage across centuries.
Its origins trace back to the Azuchi-Momoyama period (late 16th century), an era of samurai and warring states. Gold leaf was then a symbol of authority and refined beauty for feudal lords.
Kanazawa’s humid climate and high-quality water made it an ideal environment for gold leaf production, allowing the craft to flourish and take root deeply in the region — a legacy that continues to this day.
Gold leaf is created by beating pure gold to a thickness of merely 0.0001 millimeters.
The traditional “En-tsuke” method employs handmade washi paper and natural materials, requiring extraordinary precision, time, and patience.
The result is not just a decorative material, but a living expression of light — a film of gold so thin it breathes with the air, shimmering softly with every movement.
Kanazawa gold leaf embodies Japan’s golden artistry — an enduring symbol of harmony, craftsmanship, and quiet radiance.