Culture Mashiko, Tochigi

mashikoyaki

mashiko known pottery, called mashikoyaki (益子焼). pottery in mashiko dates jōmon , yayoi periods. mashikoyaki thought of simple , rustic in style, brown maybe little red glaze, modern pottery made in mashiko today found in many styles, because of creative freedom brought mashiko shoji hamada. modern mashikoyaki dates 1853, when potter discovered local clay here ideal ceramics. style popularized in 1930 when hamada, later designated living national treasure, set kiln in mashiko. hamada′s student, tatsuzō shimaoka, designated living national treasure , worked in mashiko 1953 until death in 2007.

mashiko folkware kiln site unlike of other older kiln sites around japan. town open newcomers whether potters or others professional backgrounds in arts, science , education. in japan craftsmen born profession in mashiko, potter. following shoji hamada, people looking return more traditional japanese lifestyle settled in area.

twice year, coinciding golden week holidays in first week of may, , again first week of november, there pottery , crafts festival potters , craftsmen mashiko , surrounds come town , set stalls.