【Hotel Okura Kyoto Okazaki Bettei】Lecture & Lunch with the 16th Generation Head of Asahiyaki Kiln, Hosai Matsubayashi, to be Held on July 18

Hotel Okura Kyoto Okazaki Bettei (Location: Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture; General Manager: Takeshi Kamada) will host a one-day special lecture, "A Feast of Tradition and Innovation - Asahiyaki x Nouvelle Époque," with Hosai Matsubayashi, the 16th generation head of Asahiyaki, a tea pottery with over 400 years of history in Uji, Kyoto. The event will take place on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the hotel's restaurant, "Nouvelle Époque." With the concept of "Kyoto's aesthetic sensibilities for a new era," our hotel features traditional crafts by emerging artists, including the "GO ON" project unit comprising six successors to Kyoto's traditional crafts, displayed throughout the premises. Through their stay, guests can experience the contemporary beauty of Kyoto embodied in these works and touch the craftsmanship of these artisans. At this event, Mr. Hosai Matsubayashi, a globally active member of "GO ON," will share insights into the history of Asahiyaki and the aesthetic philosophy of "kirei-sabi" passed down through generations of pottery making. In the "Nouvelle Époque" restaurant, three works by Mr. Hosai Matsubayashi, expressing "kirei-sabi" through a pale blue celadon glaze called "geppakuyu," are displayed. These include a tea bowl symbolically placed on a display shelf in a private room and vessels that stand out on bamboo shelves, all specially created for this hotel. Guests can experience the charm that Asahiyaki has woven over its 400-year history up close. Following the lecture, a special course meal using Asahiyaki vessels will be prepared. Please enjoy the fusion of the beautiful forms of pottery deeply rooted in Uji's tea culture and French cuisine. By learning the background of the crafts and actually dining with them, the hotel offers a unique experience that allows guests to feel the depth of Kyoto through all five senses. Restaurant "Nouvelle Époque" Private Room ■ "A Feast of Tradition and Innovation - Asahiyaki x Nouvelle Époque" Event Outline Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026 Time: Reception 10:30 AM / Lecture 11:00 AM / Lunch 12:00 PM Venue: Hotel Okura Kyoto Okazaki Bettei Restaurant "Nouvelle Époque" (1F) Price: 31,800 JPY (inclusive of consumption tax and service charge) Capacity: 15 people (minimum 8 participants) Content: Lecture by Mr. Hosai Matsubayashi (60 minutes), special lunch course using Asahiyaki vessels, souvenir. Reservation Start: Thursday, May 7, 2026, 10:00 AM 【Reservations and Inquiries】 Hotel Okura Kyoto Okazaki Bettei Reservation Department TEL: 075-771-5790 (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM) Official Website: https://okazakibettei.hotelokurakyoto.com/ 【Profile】 Hosai Matsubayashi Hosai Matsubayashi 16th generation head of Asahiyaki kiln. While dedicated to producing traditional tea ceremony utensils, he also actively collaborates with luxury brands both domestically and internationally and holds exhibitions as a member of "GO ON," a project unit of six successors to Kyoto's traditional crafts. He continues to disseminate the new value of Japanese crafts to the world by integrating traditional "succession" with contemporary "sensibility" at a high level. Asahiyaki Opened during the Keicho era (1596-1615) in Uji, a region where tea ceremony flourished. Since then, for over 400 years, it has been a rare kiln that has walked alongside Uji's tea culture. Successive heads inheriting the name Hosai have particularly carried on the spirit of "kirei-sabi," a clear and serene beauty advocated by tea master Kobori Enshu, into the modern era. About Hotel Okura Kyoto Okazaki Bettei Hotel Okura Kyoto Okazaki Bettei is a small luxury hotel filled with new craft works by emerging artists, mainly from Kyoto, including the "GO ON" project unit of six successors to Kyoto's traditional crafts. Located next to Higashi Honganji Okazaki Betsuin temple, offering views of its gardens and Higashiyama's nature, the hotel provides attentive hospitality, modern Kyoto beauty, and gourmet healing for a special stay. Location: 26-6 Okazaki Tennōchō, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City Floors: 4 stories above ground Number of rooms: 60 rooms Restaurants: French cuisine, lounge Other facilities: Fitness Access: Approximately 25 minutes by taxi from Kyoto Station, 14 minutes walk from "Keage" Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line, 1 minute walk from "Okazaki Jinja-mae" bus stop on the Kyoto City Bus. Official Website: https://okazakibettei.hotelokurakyoto.com/ Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kyotookazazakibettei_hotelokur