The travel plan “Kogei Dining” by Yomiuri Travel Service will be held in Fukuoka on 22 November 2022. Kogei Dining, which started as a project in conjunction with the Japan Cultural Expo since 2019, is based on the concept of “Kogei and Gastronomy.” This is a premium travel plan where you can enjoy first-class cuisine served in vessels created by living national treasure craftsmen, attend talks gi...

In continuation from last year, “NEXTRAD,” a team of 14 young managers and successors of porcelain manufacturing companies in Arita, Saga Prefecture, will be holding an interactive exhibition. Running from 3 to 5 November 2022, the exhibition, entitled “Go Forward 2022 – The Future of ‘14P’ Related to Porcelain Manufacturing,” will introduce the companies’ manufacturing process.B...

How did you get started as a glass artist?My father was a glassblowing artist, so I grew up in an environment where glass was around me from a young age. I was really a child who loved making things and drawing pictures. I first encountered traditional Japanese painting in the art club of my high school, and I enjoyed it so much that I became obsessed with it. I skipped classes and stayed in the c...

The Tsubame-Sanjo area is located close to the center of Niigata Prefecture. This area consists of two cities, Tsubame-city and Sanjo-city. Since the Edo period, hammered copperware in Tsubame, and swordsmiths in Sanjo have developed, making Tsubame-Sanjo a major production area for metal working. Even though industrialization has progressed in recent times, many craftsmen who inherited the tradit...

“RENEW,” an open factory event aimed at sustainable regional development will be held for 3 days from the 7 to 9 of October 2022 in Sabae-city, Echizen-city and Echizen-cho in Fukui Prefecture. Based on the concept of “Visit, Learn and Experience – A Hands-on Market That Connects with Creators,” many factories and companies will be open to the public during this event period. It is an event where ...

“Wabi-sabi” is one of Japan’s traditional aesthetic sensibilities, having grown out of Zen. Japan has long had a variety of aesthetic senses, such as “mono no aware” and “iki”, but wabi-sabi is one Japanese term that has spread worldwide, and can now be considered an international aesthetic. This sense of beauty has influenced many aspects of Japanese culture, from literatu...

Shigaraki is a town rich in nature and surrounded by mountains on all sides. Located south of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, it is a highland area at an altitude of about 300 meters, with cool summers and very cold winters. One can see tanuki or ‘raccoon dog’ figurines lined up here and there all over the town, and it is no wonder that tanuki have become a synonym for Shigaraki ware in general. Ho...

The Executive Committee for Japan Craft Week (operated by The Creation of Japan General Incorporated Association) will be holding its very first “Japan Craft Week” online from the 18 to 25 of September, 2022. This year marks its very first edition following the concept of “Connecting through Crafts,” and aims to use this period, including the autumn equinox, as a special week to be immersed into a...

“Hokuriku Crafts Festival GO FOR KOGEI 2022” will be held again this year in the three Hokuriku prefectures, Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui. This event was launched in the Hokuriku region in 2020 as a platform to convey the charm of crafts from a contemporary perspective. This time, the theme “The Journey of Crafts, Moving Our Emotions,” lets us reconsider the relationship between our generation toda...

This autumn, HULS Gallery Tokyo will hold its second exhibition showcasing sake ware. Japanese sake ware comes in many different materials and shapes. In the many ways that we can enjoy and appreciate them — using them according to your mood or the taste of the sake, or simply admiring them as decoration — they never fail to fascinate us. This exhibition will include over 200 works from more than ...

This 2022, Fujimaki Seitou, a manufacturer that produces porcelain in Arita, Saga Prefecture, released a beautiful tea set titled “BUN KO KI,” showcasing an elegant and simple design. Fujimaki Seitou is known for making tableware using fresh color glazes and refined shapes without any painted decoration. Even though many manufacturers specialize in solely painting in Arita, Fujimaki stands out by ...

Hata Shikki, a brand that manufactures and sells Yamanaka lacquerware, is holding its first solo product launch exhibition. Held at its own store in Yamanaka Onsen, Ishikawa Prefecture, the exhibition opened August 18, 2022.Founded in 1930, Hata Shikki has since developed two brands of lacquerware, “col.” and “unomatsudo.”, using the wood turning technique that has been traditionally passed down i...