Muun
Traditional Craftsman of Katsushika Ward
Shinji Nishiyama was born in March 1952 in Takasago, Katsushika Ward, Tokyo. He is a silversmith specializing in Tokyo silverware, with a focus on metalworking through hammering techniques.
Raised in a family of silversmiths, he grew up learning not only hammering but also engraving, casting, and other diverse metalworking techniques. After graduating from junior high school, he apprenticed under his father, Saburō Nishiyama. During the day, he trained in the workshop, and at night he attended the Tokyo Metropolitan Kogei High School, Department of Metal Crafts, acquiring a broad foundation in both the theory and application of metalwork.
Guided by the belief that silverware has no fixed rules and should allow creative freedom, he has worked on a variety of projects including horse racing trophies, silver tableware, and gold cups. After turning 30, he joined a jewelry company, mastering everything from prototype creation to repair techniques.
As times changed, he returned to the path of traditional crafts, worked in his brother’s workshop, and eventually established his own studio, Muun. Today, he continues to approach metal crafts with the skills and flexible creativity he has cultivated throughout his career.
Shinji Nishiyama’s commitment to Tokyo silverware is deeply rooted in the skills he inherited as a family trade and in his strong bonds with his family. When he first entered a piece in a competition and won, the joy of his father and mentor, Saburō, became the defining moment that confirmed his path in silversmithing.
Even now, with his brothers also active as Tokyo silverware artisans, Nishiyama continues to dedicate himself to metalworking at his own workshop, Muun. In particular, the “shibori” technique—repeatedly hammering a single sheet of metal to shape it into a three-dimensional form—is the family’s hallmark, and the presence of his older brother as both a goal and a rival drives him to refine his craft further.
Through teaching at his alma mater, he also passes on these skills to the next generation, reflecting his desire to ensure that Tokyo silverware endures into the future. Nishiyama believes that continuously improving his own work and creating high-quality pieces is the best way to convey both the technique and the spirit of the craft. His unwavering dedication to Tokyo silverware is fully embodied in this approach.
Tokyo Silverware is a traditional craft rooted in the lineage of Edo-period metalwork, once used for armor, accessories, and daily wares. In 1979, it was officially designated as a National Traditional Craft of Japan.
Its defining characteristic lies in the manual process of tankin (metal hammering), where artisans meticulously shape sheets of high-purity silver with hammers. By combining this with techniques such as engraving and soldering, they bring out silver’s natural, soft luster and a rich character that deepens with years of use.
At Muun (夢雲), we honor these traditional methods while creating tableware, accessories, and decorative objects that blend naturally into modern lifestyles. Each piece is thoughtfully designed—not only for its beauty but for its practicality and the comfort it brings to the touch. Our work allows people to experience the charm of Tokyo Silverware firsthand, offering crafts that are meant to be cherished for a lifetime.
These pieces are made by carefully assembling sea glass collected from the Okinawan sea using wax, then casting them in silver.
No two pieces are exactly alike.
Muun
Traditional Craftsman of Katsushika Ward
Shinji Nishiyama was born in March 1952 in Takasago, Katsushika Ward, Tokyo. He is a silversmith specializing in Tokyo silverware, with a focus on metalworking through hammering techniques.
Raised in a family of silversmiths, he grew up learning not only hammering but also engraving, casting, and other diverse metalworking techniques. After graduating from junior high school, he apprenticed under his father, Saburō Nishiyama. During the day, he trained in the workshop, and at night he attended the Tokyo Metropolitan Kogei High School, Department of Metal Crafts, acquiring a broad foundation in both the theory and application of metalwork.
Guided by the belief that silverware has no fixed rules and should allow creative freedom, he has worked on a variety of projects including horse racing trophies, silver tableware, and gold cups. After turning 30, he joined a jewelry company, mastering everything from prototype creation to repair techniques.
As times changed, he returned to the path of traditional crafts, worked in his brother’s workshop, and eventually established his own studio, Muun. Today, he continues to approach metal crafts with the skills and flexible creativity he has cultivated throughout his career.
Shinji Nishiyama’s commitment to Tokyo silverware is deeply rooted in the skills he inherited as a family trade and in his strong bonds with his family. When he first entered a piece in a competition and won, the joy of his father and mentor, Saburō, became the defining moment that confirmed his path in silversmithing.
Even now, with his brothers also active as Tokyo silverware artisans, Nishiyama continues to dedicate himself to metalworking at his own workshop, Muun. In particular, the “shibori” technique—repeatedly hammering a single sheet of metal to shape it into a three-dimensional form—is the family’s hallmark, and the presence of his older brother as both a goal and a rival drives him to refine his craft further.
Through teaching at his alma mater, he also passes on these skills to the next generation, reflecting his desire to ensure that Tokyo silverware endures into the future. Nishiyama believes that continuously improving his own work and creating high-quality pieces is the best way to convey both the technique and the spirit of the craft. His unwavering dedication to Tokyo silverware is fully embodied in this approach.
Tokyo Silverware is a traditional craft rooted in the lineage of Edo-period metalwork, once used for armor, accessories, and daily wares. In 1979, it was officially designated as a National Traditional Craft of Japan.
Its defining characteristic lies in the manual process of tankin (metal hammering), where artisans meticulously shape sheets of high-purity silver with hammers. By combining this with techniques such as engraving and soldering, they bring out silver’s natural, soft luster and a rich character that deepens with years of use.
At Muun (夢雲), we honor these traditional methods while creating tableware, accessories, and decorative objects that blend naturally into modern lifestyles. Each piece is thoughtfully designed—not only for its beauty but for its practicality and the comfort it brings to the touch. Our work allows people to experience the charm of Tokyo Silverware firsthand, offering crafts that are meant to be cherished for a lifetime.
