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...

How did you come to bamboo as a material, and what is its appeal?I have always loved the tea ceremony, a culture with a uniquely Japanese spirituality. The tea ceremony utilizes meticulously crafted tools to offer a hospitality that embodies the spirit of “ichi-go ichi-e,” or a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. One of the reasons I chose bamboo was my awareness of environmental issues. Growing up in t...

Tsugaru lacquerware, a traditional craft of Aomori Prefecture, is known for its painstakingly thorough process of applying and polishing lacquer repeatedly, earning it the nickname “baka-nuri” (foolish coating). The film “Tsugaru Lacquer Girl” explores human relationships through the lens of Tsugaru lacquerware, set in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture. The protagonist, Miyako, works ai...

Shitsurindo, a manufacturer based in the Kawada area of Sabae, Fukui Prefecture, one of Japan’s leading lacquerware production areas, has been engaged in the production and sale of Echizen lacquerware. Founded in 1793, the company has a long history and in 2023, the 230th anniversary of its founding, was certified as a purveyor to Daihonzan Eiheiji temple, which is also located in Echizen. In addi...

The sound of the tea whisk ceases, and a bowl of tea is placed before you by the host. The steam softly rising from the bowl, the faint aroma of matcha powdered green tea wafting through your nose. In the serene moment before taking a sip, there is always a tea bowl between the host and the guest.Sen no Rikyu, who established the art of the tea ceremony, taught the principles of “Wa, Kei, Se...

This phrase “mono no aware” represents an aesthetic ideal proposed by Motoori Norinaga, a scholar of classical Japanese literature in the late Edo period (1603-1868), which is considered crucial for understanding the court literature of the Heian period (794-1185). “Mono no aware,” literally “the pathos of things” but also translated as “an empathy toward things,” encapsulates the profound emotion...

The “Art Kogei, from Japan to the World Executive Committee” will host the Special Exhibition “The Future of Artisanal Beauty: Vessels, Wrappings, Decorations.” The first exhibition will be held from July 4 to 16, 2024 at TERRADA ART COMPLEX II BONDED GALLERY by Warehouse TERRADA, which leads art projects based in Tennoz, Tokyo. The second exhibition is scheduled from November 3 to 5, 2024 at Kenn...