About Shōendō
Preservation of Japanese Painting
Based in France, the studio specializes in the conservation and restoration of Japanese paintings and other East Asian pictorial art.
The care for hanging scrolls –kakejiku-, folding screens –byōbu– or handscrolls –makimono– requires expert knowledge and hand skills that can only be achieved through long years of training. This is the type of excellence Shōendō offers to its clients all across Europe.
The name Shōendō (松燕堂) was born from training at Usami Shōkakudō (松鶴堂) in Kyoto. Following the tradition of inheriting one character from the master’s atelier, Shō (松, pine) was kept and paired with En (燕, swallow), echoing the crane (鶴) of Shōkakudō.
What we do
Art Restoration with Traditional Japanese Craftsmanship
Shōendō values the traditions of Japanese painting restoration and mounting while remaining attentive to the latest technical advances and conservation standards.
The Shōendō studio recreates the environment of a Japanese conservation workshop. Work is primarily done on tatami mats and low workbenches, as this traditional setup provides the ideal conditions for these delicate tasks.
Shōendō uses only the finest materials, carefully selected from trusted Japanese makers and suppliers. These include various handmade washi papers, pure silk brocades such as kinran (woven with gold thread) and donsu (damask), and other premium materials. The adhesives employed in scroll and screen conservation—wheat starch paste, aged paste (furunori), seaweed glue (funori), and animal glue (nikawa)—are all natural and have a long history of safe use in art conservation.
At Shōendō, we strive to provide the best conservation care for your Asian art pieces while being based in Europe.
The conservator
Yoan Rosenziveig
He has been fascinated by Japan and its culture since his youth. An equal passion for art and history, led him to study and obtain a Master’s degree in paper conservation from La Cambre (Brussels). There, he discovered the extent to which Japanese materials and techniques have influenced Western practices. This connection deepened his appreciation for Japanese art and craftsmanship.
Following his degree, he spent a year at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, learning from master conservators trained in Japan, working on the restoration of folding screens and scrolls. A Japan Foundation fellowship then brought him to Japan, where he furthered his language studies before joining the prestigious Usami Shokakudo studio in Kyoto. For nearly eight years, he immersed himself in Japanese conservation and mounting, refining his skills and working on countless pieces, both in the studio and at temples.
Drawing on this extensive experience, he returned to Europe and founded Shōendō in 2025, serving museums and private collectors throughout Europe.