A Small Town with A Great Dedication to Pottery
Mashiko is a small, but its influence in the world of pottery belies its size.The Mingei craft movement brought the town to the international stage with its reputation for high quality and creativity.
Mashiko ware is distinguished by its rustic appearance. Fitting the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi simplicity, its popularity began in the 19th century because it was attractive yet practical. The pottery was mostly used as kitchenware at the time.Today, the allure of Mashiko's pottery attracts buyers from around the globe, and pieces are shown in art collections, including the Ceramic Art Messe Mashiko. It houses a variety of earthenware-related facilities, with the Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art as its centerpiece. Initially, the museum focused exclusively on Mashiko-yaki. Recently, it has also begun displaying modern ceramic work from overseas.
Famed artisan Shoji Hamada established a studio in Mashiko in the early 1900s after discovering how wonderful its soil was for pottery. His house, workshop, and kilns, which were built based on ancient designs, have been relocated to Ceramic Art Messe Mashiko. Hamada's work was at the center of the Japanese art world's Mingei movement. Mingei art fuses beauty with practicality by popularizing ordinary artisanal styles. With Hamada's presence, Mashiko evolved into a world capital of earthenware.
Mashiko hosts two pottery fairs every year: one during Japan's Golden Week Holiday in late April and early May and another in early November. The whole town hosts the event, but most shops and tents set up along Jonaizaka, the main street. Opportunities to purchase Mashiko ware abound.
Mashiko ware is distinguished by its rustic appearance. Fitting the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi simplicity, its popularity began in the 19th century because it was attractive yet practical. The pottery was mostly used as kitchenware at the time.Today, the allure of Mashiko's pottery attracts buyers from around the globe, and pieces are shown in art collections, including the Ceramic Art Messe Mashiko. It houses a variety of earthenware-related facilities, with the Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art as its centerpiece. Initially, the museum focused exclusively on Mashiko-yaki. Recently, it has also begun displaying modern ceramic work from overseas.
Famed artisan Shoji Hamada established a studio in Mashiko in the early 1900s after discovering how wonderful its soil was for pottery. His house, workshop, and kilns, which were built based on ancient designs, have been relocated to Ceramic Art Messe Mashiko. Hamada's work was at the center of the Japanese art world's Mingei movement. Mingei art fuses beauty with practicality by popularizing ordinary artisanal styles. With Hamada's presence, Mashiko evolved into a world capital of earthenware.
Mashiko hosts two pottery fairs every year: one during Japan's Golden Week Holiday in late April and early May and another in early November. The whole town hosts the event, but most shops and tents set up along Jonaizaka, the main street. Opportunities to purchase Mashiko ware abound.
