Recently, many chefs are choosing to present their culinary creations on Japanese tableware.

Rather than purchasing them, some are renting high-end dishes that are hand-selected by an expert curator.

This business model also allows the craftspeople who make them

to cater their creations to suit a broad range of cuisines.

Today's On-Site Report features a unique rental service giving restaurants an affordable way

to upgrade their food presentation while providing a boost to traditional Japanese artists!

This traditional Japanese restaurant is located in Tokyo.

"What a beautiful plate!"

"It's Arita Porcelain."

This plate was recently made by a studio that's been in business for over 400 years.

"The thoughtful pairing of food and tableware makes the experience even more enjoyable!"

The unique Japanese tableware rental service allows restaurants to swap some

or all of the dishes, once every 3 months.

A 30-piece rental set containing handmade dishes from all over Japan

with a total value of nearly $2,000, can be rented for about $200 per month.

"When I first opened my restaurant, my budget was really limited

and I couldn't afford the upfront cost of buying high-quality dishes."

"Another great part of this rental service

is that it really elevates the level of our food presentation."

The tableware rental company was started in 2019 by Hotta Takuya.

Prior to starting his own business, he'd spent many years involved with promoting and preserving traditional Japanese crafts.

While traveling all over Japan providing business advice to artists and craftspeople,

he realized most of them had large amounts of unsold pieces -

many that were just too expensive to sell to average consumers.

"Every studio has items that go unsold -

some are left sitting in storerooms for 20 years or more."

"I felt it was a shame that such beautiful pieces of art were just sitting in the dark

and collecting dust rather than being used and appreciated."

Hotta thought that pricing was likely what was preventing restaurants from buying and using high-quality tableware.

He figured that if restaurants had an opportunity to rent the tableware, the cost barrier could be broken.

Through a large network of industry contacts, his business has been able to amass an inventory

containing over 7,000 pieces of tableware made by over 50 different studios.

What makes Hotta's rental business really stand out, is the company's in-house curator.

The expert eye Hotta chose for that task - professional tableware buyer, Yasuda Aki,

who personally selects dishes to not only complement clients' menu items,

but also match the ambiance of their establishments.

"Konnichiwa."

Yasuda's knowledge has been built over years of visiting kilns and studios across Japan.

"How do you get this texture?"

"It was made using soil containing volcanic ash that the artist dug up himself, near Mt. Aso."

"That's pretty wild!"

"The designs are so fresh and creative, I get really excited every time I get a new delivery!"

The curation service has also resulted in one major unexpected benefit -

After trying out tableware they would normally never choose on their own,

nearly 90% of customers end up purchasing pieces they have rented.

This is all the more impressive considering the majority of the tableware is sourced from excess inventory.

"To be honest, I never expected to sell so many pieces,

but it's definitely been a pleasant surprise!

and... I'm thrilled that we've been able to bring in new business for all of these local artists!"

The City of Seto has been known for its pottery and ceramics for over a millennia.

Founded 103 years ago, this studio is currently run by Shinya and Mihoko Kato, and their daughter, Mayuki.

For several decades, they have specialized in producing white tableware

decorated with contrasting blue paint for use in traditional Japanese restaurants.

However, most major buyers are only willing to offer them a few dollars per item.

"It's been pretty stressful thinking about whether we can continue putting so much work

into pieces that they want for such low prices."

"Rather than relying on quantity, we've decided to produce unique pieces that can sell at much higher prices."

Wanting to create something that could also be used with western style cuisine,

Mayuki came up with this plate which features a delicately painted flower.

She felt that the rental service could give her a way to directly reach consumers

and wanted to appeal to them by creating unique, design-oriented pieces.

"By getting our plates in restaurants, we can reach a whole new group of potential customers -

and not just the chefs, but the clientele that patronize their establishments."

"This new approach gives us access to buyers that our standard sales channels can't, so this has been really exciting for us."

This French restaurant has become a huge fan of Mayuki's designs.

"They're just absolutely gorgeous."

"The blue she uses contrasts nicely with all the ingredients I use."

"This makes the food look even better and really adds to the overall presentation."

Mayuki's delicate designs combined with gourmet French dishes

proved to be extremely popular with customers.

After several snapshots began trending on social media, Mayuki's designs started receiving unexpected attention.

The studio has now developed a following that includes fans both within Japan and abroad.

She estimates that currently, 20% of all sales now come from foreign customers.

From reaching new people through the rental service to gaining exposure via social media,

suddenly people are using our dishes all over the world!"

The rental service has also led to more work for another type of traditional artisan.

As with all tableware, cracks, chips, and breaks are bound to happen.

"Kintsugi" is a traditional ceramic and pottery restoration method that first originated over 400 years ago.

Artisans carefully glues the broken pieces together

using lacquer mixed or dusted with powdered precious metals such as gold or silver.

By highlighting areas where damage has occurred,

the art of "kintsugi" draws close parallels to the Japanese concept of "wabi sabi"

which recognizes that beauty can be found in imperfection.

"Whether it's cracked or warped, any type of damage can actually contribute to an item's overall appearance."

"So, those new cracks just give them added character and value."

By including broken tableware that's been repaired with "kintsugi" in his rentals,

Hotta hopes that more people will learn to appreciate the beauty of yet another traditional form of Japanese art.

"Japanese culture and traditions can only be passed on to the next generation

through the artists and craftspeople who have dedicated themselves to mastering them."

"I feel it's my mission to support these people and help share their work with the world."