ALEXCIOUS

Table settings in Japan traditionally tend toward wood, lacquer, and ceramic wares. Metal utensils are often perceived as being clunky and prone to tarnishing. Today’s metal works, however, are a delight to use: a free-form basket made of pure tin, tongs that feel like extensions of your own fingers, a cast-iron kettle that’s a functional work of art, aluminum plates with the heft and look of ceramic. We witnessed the heat and enthusiasm of these metal crafters in their own workshops.