On October 30, 2024, I visited the town of Wajima in the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture. This was my second visit since September of the previous year, but the town’s landscape had changed drastically since then. Upon arriving at the airport, I noticed that there were strange bumps all over the parking lot. The view from the car as I headed into the city was far more grim than I had imagined. ...

The successive heads of the Kobeigama Kiln have each produced remarkable works, continuing the kiln’s legacy. As the eighth generation head of the kiln, how do you approach this tradition? Additionally, could you share how this history influences the ceramics you create today?The first generation head of the kiln, Kobei Kato, established a nobori-gama or climbing kiln on the slopes of this mountai...

Born into the Mikawachi ware lineage of the Hirado Kohsyo Danemon Kiln, Taiyo Nakazato naturally aspired to pursue the path of ceramics, and from a young age was expected to become the next head of the kiln. “When a successor is born, all the relatives celebrate and rejoice. Perhaps because of that environment, I knew from a young age that I wanted to work in this field.”During his stu...

Wajima City in Ishikawa Prefecture is globally renowned as the birthplace of Wajima lacquerware, a traditional Japanese craft. Following the Noto Peninsula Earthquake in January 2024, local artisans lost their workshops and tools, making it difficult for them to continue their craft. In response, Wedgwood, a British Royal Warrant brand with 265 years of history rooted in craftsmanship, artistry an...

Fukui, recognized as one of the leading manufacturing hubs in Japan, is home to traditional crafts such as Echizen lacquerware, Echizen washi paper, Echizen forged blades, Echizen cabinetry, and Echizen ware. In addition, it is also known for its thriving local industries, including eyeglasses and textile production. The industrial tourism event “RENEW,” which aims to promote sustainable community...

The food and art festival “TOMORROW FIELD 2024 Fall,” organized by the non-profit organization TOMORROW, will be held from October 25 to November 17, 2024, in the Taiza district of Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture. Previously held as the “ECHO” food and art festival in 2022 and 2023, this event will now be held twice a year, in both fall and spring, under the new name “TOMORROW FIELD.”“TOMORROW FIE...

It can be warm and rustic. It can be cool and delicate. Even though a host has a singular purpose in preparing a bowl of tea for a guest to enjoy, the expressions of tea bowls are diverse. This is precisely why a host can imbue a tea bowl with a sense of the season or personal sentiment, and the guest, sensing this, can connect on a deeper level.In this chapter, we will explore the elements that s...

The Special Exhibition: Art Kogei, from Japan to the World “The Future of Artisanal Beauty: Vessels, Wrappings, Decorations” was held at TERRADA ART COMPLEX II BONDED GALLERY of Warehouse TERRADA, an art business based in Tennoz, Tokyo, through July 16, 2024. The exhibition showcased the works of ten artists who pursue free expressions of contemporary art using traditional craft techni...

The third edition of “ART JOB FAIR,” a job fair focused on the arts and culture sectors is decided to be held. The event is scheduled to take place over two days, from February 1 to 2, 2025, at the TODA BUILDING in Kyobashi, Tokyo, which is expected to open this fall.“ART JOB FAIR” was launched in 2023 as a platform for cultural and artistic organizations seeking talent to connect with job seekers...

The event “Utsuwa no Aki (Pottery in Fall),” where you can experience the culture of Hagi ware, will be held again this fall in Nagato Yumoto Onsen, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Eight artists from all five Fukawa-Hagi kilns will participate in the event. This year’s theme is “Irotori,” named after the vibrant colors of the beautiful season when the leaves change. The event will feature an array of Hagi w...

“GO FOR KOGEI,” an initiative that aims to promote the charm of crafts from the Hokuriku region, will celebrate its fifth edition this year. The event will be held from September 14 to October 20, 2024, in the Iwase area (Toyama, Toyama Prefecture) and the Higashiyama area (Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture). Yuji Akimoto, who has been the executive director and curator since 2021, will continue in hi...

Throughout this series, we have introduced the traditional Japanese aesthetics crucial to conveying the allure of kogei or Japanese crafts. Moving forward, to contemplate the future path of Japanese crafts, we will reconsider the value of crafts in light of global social issues and questions. First, I would like to explore the concept of fudo, which is deeply intertwined with the origins of Japane...