When discussing the aesthetics of Japanese craftsmanship, there are several essential aspects that cannot be overlooked. One of these is the concept of “Yo-no-bi.” Although commonly translated as “the beauty of everyday things,” the phrase literally means ...

Kane no Sanzun is a private hotel that opened in 2021, located in a renovated traditional Japanese residence in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture. Its primary aim is to promote a deeper understanding of Takaoka copperware by incorporating it into daily life through hands-on usage and im...

An exhibition of works by ceramic artist Hitoshi Morimoto from Bizen, Okayama Prefecture, was held at SORA Gallery in Himonya, Tokyo. This was Hitoshi’s second exhibition at SORA in three years, and his first solo show there following a joint exhibition earlier. Approximately 300...

“Zen” is a widely known word overseas, similar to wabi-sabi. Owing to the influence of Steve Jobs, it is one of the Eastern spiritualities that continues to pique the interest of people in the Western world. When you hear the word “Zen,” often the first th...

“Révélations,” the international fine crafts and creation biennial organized by Ateliers d’Art de France, is coming back for its 6th edition. The event for the contemporary creation sector has started in 2013 and celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. It will be taken...

As you learn more about the Japanese sense of beauty, you will come to realize that the Japanese people possess at their core a fundamental shizenkan, or “view on nature.” Japanese people find the falling cherry blossoms beautiful, not simply because of their beautiful colors or ...

The exhibition of the LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize 2023 will be held from May 17 to June 18, 2023, in New York. The 30 finalist’s work for the prize will go on display in Isamu Noguchi’s Studio at The Noguchi Museum. The venue was at the center of Noguchi’s artistic practice in t...

Gato Mikio Co., Ltd. was founded in 1908 as a woodworking factory in Yamanaka Onsen, Ishikawa Prefecture, a region known for its wood turning production. With excellent planning and sales capabilities, the company has actively developed products that combine traditional technique...

How did you spend your childhood and school age years? What were your interests and encounters with pottery?I was a child who loved to draw. I drew pictures and cartoons. I had no experience with ceramics, but since my father was from Saga Prefecture, most of the tableware we use...

Discover, Acquire, Enjoy – The Appreciation of Tea Ware has been released by Abe Publishing Ltd. in April 2023. Specializing in ceramic arts, the quarterly journal Honoho Geijutsu or The Art of Fire was first published in 1982. It covers the history and techniques of pottery with...

A cross-disciplinary collaboration was realized through the encounter between Kengo Kuma, a world-renowned architect and Noriko Tsuiki, a textile designer who has restored and revived Kokura-ori. The launch of a new interior textile brand of Kokura-ori, “KUMASHIMA” was announced....

Junichiro Tanizaki’s essay In Praise of Shadows, published in 1933, is one of the books that introduced Japanese aesthetics to the world. Written in a unique style, the book highlights the importance of dim light and shadow in the Japanese lifestyle. It has become a must-re...