Evolving Traditions: 'Artisan Skills to Color Your Life' Held from July 15 (Wed) to July 20 (Mon/Holiday)!

The General Incorporated Foundation Traditional Crafts Industry Promotion Association (located in Minato-ku, Tokyo) will hold the exhibition and sale event "Evolving Traditions: Artisan Skills to Color Your Life" from Wednesday, July 15 to Monday, July 20, at the Hankyu Umeda Main Store's 9th floor event space in Osaka. This six-day event will bring together creators from 49 production areas across the country. Crafts from various genres, including Tsugaru-nuri lacquerware, Edo Kimekomi dolls, Kutani ware, Toyooka Koryu basketry, and more, will be gathered from Aomori Prefecture to Kagoshima Prefecture, encompassing textiles, lacquerware, ceramics, metalwork, woodwork, and other crafts.

Special Website: https://website.hankyu-dept.co.jp/honten/h/takuminowaza/

This is the fifth iteration of the event, featuring items that delight with their colors and patterns, as well as "lucky charms" that bring happiness. Numerous other exquisite items, condensed with the artisan skills from across the country, will also be on display.

During the event, there will be live demonstrations of skills by experienced artisans and hands-on workshops. This is a valuable opportunity to interact directly with craftspeople you wouldn't normally encounter, potentially discovering new charms of traditional crafts you hadn't noticed before. Please take this opportunity to visit.

Event Overview

Event Name: Evolving Traditions: Artisan Skills to Color Your Life

Organizer: General Incorporated Foundation Traditional Crafts Industry Promotion Association

Dates: July 15 (Wed) - July 20 (Mon/Holiday)

Hours: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM daily *Closes at 5:00 PM on the final day

Venue: Hankyu Umeda Main Store, 9th Floor Event Space

Admission: Free

A Full Lineup of Exquisite Items to Color Your Life

"Artisan Skills to Color Your Life" will feature a dazzling array of selected masterpieces, with creators from 49 production areas nationwide gathering. Find your own unique favorite item while enjoying conversations with the artisans from each region.

< Partial Introduction of Exhibited Works >

Left: Kamakura-bori (Kanagawa Prefecture) "Uroko Plate" / Center: Suruga Take Sensuji Zaiku (Shizuoka Prefecture) "Handbag, Ancient Square Shape" / Right: Omi Jofu (Shiga Prefecture) "Handwoven Linen Stole"

Left: Kutani Ware (Ishikawa Prefecture) "Kutani Pottery Fragment Herringbone Pattern Earrings" / Center: Mino Ware (Gifu Prefecture) "Clear Stream Oil Drip Tenmoku Cup" / Right: Tsugaru-nuri (Aomori Prefecture) "Ichimatsu Karatachi Three-Tiered Bento Box"

Enriching Events

During the event, there will be production demonstrations by artisans, as well as various workshops. This is a precious opportunity to experience artisan skills up close.

Tsugaru-nuri

Skill Demonstration

Artisans will perform various demonstrations daily, including carving, lathe turning, and maki-e (gold lacquer decoration). Please come and witness the delicate handiwork up close.

Demonstrating Regions: Tsugaru-nuri, Mashiko Ware, Owari Buddhist Fittings, Kutani Ware, Echizen Tansu Chests, Akama Suzu Inkstones

Workshop (Production Experience)

Workshops are available not only for adults but also for children. You can participate at the experience corner within the event space or at the booths of the relevant craft items.

Osaka Senshu Kiridansu "Paulownia Box Making Experience"

Create a paulownia box approximately 22cm wide, 8cm high, and 17cm deep.

Ecchu Fukuoka Sugasa "Mamegasa Making"

Make a small sedge hat using traditional craft techniques.

Izumi Glass "Accessory and Suncatcher Making"

Create accessories and suncatchers using Izumi Glass and Izumi Pearls.

Nara Fude "Brush Finishing"

This is the finishing stage of brush making, where glue is applied to the bristles, excess glue is squeezed out with thread, and the shape is perfected.

Exhibited Crafts

Aomori Prefecture Tsugaru-nuri

Iwate Prefecture Hidehira-nuri / Nambu Ironware

Akita Prefecture Odate Magewappa

Tochigi Prefecture Mashiko Ware

Tokyo Tokyo Some Komon / Edo Kimekomi Ningyo / Edo Kiriko / Edo Bekko

Kanagawa Prefecture Kamakura-bori

Nagano Prefecture Kisosansan Rokuro Zaiku

Yamanashi Prefecture Koshu Suisho Kiseki Zaiku / Koshu Tehori Insho

Shizuoka Prefecture Suruga Take Sensuji Zaiku

Aichi Prefecture Sanshu Ki-gawara Kogei / Owari Butsugu / Nagoya Sekku Kazari

Gifu Prefecture Mino Ware / Ichii Ittobori

Mie Prefecture Yokkaichi Banko Ware / Kuwana Imono / Ise no Jingu

Toyama Prefecture Ecchu Fukuoka no Sugasa

Ishikawa Prefecture Kutani Ware / Yamanaka Shikki

Fukui Prefecture Echizen Tansu / Echizen Uchihamono

Shiga Prefecture Omi Jofu

Kyoto Prefecture Kyo Butsudan / Kyo Butsugu / Kyo Shipo / Kurotani Washi

Osaka Prefecture Naniwa Honzome / Osaka Senshu Kiridansu / Izumi Glass

Hyogo Prefecture Toyooka Koryu Zaiku

Nara Prefecture Nara Fude

Wakayama Prefecture Kishu Tansu

Shimane Prefecture Sekishu Washi / Izumo Menou Zaiku / Matsuebori / Kiji Ningyo

Hiroshima Prefecture Kumano Fude

Yamaguchi Prefecture Akama Suzu

Fukuoka Prefecture Koishiwara Ware

Saga Prefecture Imari/Arita Ware

Nagasaki Prefecture Nagasaki Bekko

Kagoshima Prefecture Tanegashima Hamono / Satsuma Tsumage Kushi

Total 49 Crafts (48 stores)

*Includes "Furusato Kogei" (hometown crafts) from various regions across the country, in addition to Traditional Crafts designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Inquiries regarding this matter

General Incorporated Foundation Traditional Crafts Industry Promotion Association (Contact: Miyamoto, Takano, Fukuda, Ota)

8-1-22 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052

E-mail: mag@kougei.or.jp TEL: 03-6432-9335

Official Event SNS https://www.instagram.com/kougei_event/

<About the General Incorporated Foundation Traditional Crafts Industry Promotion Association>

The General Incorporated Foundation Traditional Crafts Industry Promotion Association was established in 1975 with the support of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to promote Japan's traditional crafts industry. Various crafts such as ceramics, lacquerware, dyeing and weaving, and Japanese paper exist throughout Japan. Among these, Traditional Crafts designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry currently number 244 items.

Through various projects, the association promotes the traditional crafts industry nationwide and operates "Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square" (8-1-22 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo) https://kougeihin.jp/, which connects production areas with users.

*"Traditional Crafts" are crafts designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. These are crafts that meet several requirements, such as being manufactured using traditionally used raw materials and traditional techniques/methods, with the main manufacturing process being handmade.

General Incorporated Foundation Traditional Crafts Industry Promotion Association

This foundation was established by the national government, local governments, production area associations, and other organizations based on the Law for the Promotion of Traditional Crafts Industry. We conduct various projects to promote the industry of "Traditional Crafts" designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, which boast reliable techniques and quality and a history of over 100 years, and to ensure that general consumers correctly understand their appeal. We operate the gallery "Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square," where you can encounter traditional crafts from all over the country, showcasing artisan skills and beauty.