Mashiko-yaki, pottery from the town of Mashiko in Tochigi Prefecture.
Mashiko Pottery Market event is famous, so many people may know about it.
The characteristic of Mashiko pottery is its thickness and weight, as well as its chubby appearance.
First of all, we would like to introduce the history, characteristics, and kilns of Mashiko Pottery in order.
What is Mashiko Pottery?
The History of Mashiko Pottery
Mashiko Pottery has a history dating back to the end of the Edo period and is made in and around the town of Mashiko in Tochigi Prefecture.
The history of Mashiko pottery began when Otsuka Keizaburo, who had been trained in Kasama pottery in Ibaraki, searched for pottery clay suitable for making pottery in Mashiko and chose the town as the site for his pottery.
The main products are daily necessities such as pots and earthenware bottles.
Because of its proximity to the metropolitan area and its suitability for distribution, it developed rapidly.
Because of the traditional "we will not refuse anyone who comes to us," it is said that several hundred potters, both domestic and foreign, have gathered here.
This is still the case today.
Today, Mashiko-yaki continues to blend the traditions of Mashiko-yaki with cutting-edge design to create products that are well received by many people.
Characteristics of Mashiko Pottery
The characteristic of Mashiko Pottery is the texture of the clay.The characteristic of Mashiko Pottery is the texture of the clay.
Because the clay produced in the prefecture contains many air bubbles, it is not suitable for fine workmanship and inevitably becomes thicker.
That is why Mashiko pottery is so unique.
That is what gives Mashiko pottery its characteristic warm, fluffy texture.
One of the charms of Mashiko pottery is that it has a lot of sandy texture, giving it a rustic flavor.
The clay of Mashiko pottery is an excellent match for the glazes also made in Mashiko, and the colors given by the ame and celadon glazes give a deep impression of taste.
Because of the nature of the clay, Mashiko pottery tends to become darker after firing, so to compensate for this, a white makeup has been applied using nuka-jiro glaze.
The basic decoration is simple and practical, painted with familiar tools such as brush strokes and comb strokes.
Attraction of Mashiko Pottery
Mashiko pottery is made as a tool to be used in daily life.
Therefore, most of the vessels are suitable for all kinds of dishes and tables.
A chubby size vessel that envelops a colorful salad.
It creates a warm impression on the dining table
without interfering with the color of the salad.
Quote: kinone_mashiko (Instagram)
It works great with Western food such as bread and hashbeef.
Even when simple dishes are laid out, it
makes for a rich and fluffy dining table.
Quote: mashiko.tsukamoto (Instagram)
It is, of course, also excellent with Japanese food!
You will want to have many of them appear in scenes where you are eating rice that is steamy with hafu hafu.
The charm of Mashiko pottery is that it can wrap even colorful dishes with simple ingredients, regardless of whether they are Japanese, Western, or Chinese.
What is Mashiko pottery?
Four kilns you should know Mashiko Pottery!
Wakasama Pottery
"I would like to fill a need in modern society with Japanese tableware that can be used every day."
Wakasama Pottery is a potter based on this belief.
Wakasama Pottery is particular about making ceramics in the nature and handmade, and the power of nature is embodied in their pottery.
All of his pottery is handmade.
Each of his vessels is simple, yet feels warm.
They are simple and simple to use on the table.
They are simple and blend well with the dining table, and the natural colors of the vessels go well with the food.
One of the popular series of Wakasama Pottery is Sherby Turquoise vessels.
"Sherby" means "worn-out" in literal translation.
In other words, it is a somewhat antique turquoise blue.
The eye-catching turquoise blue dishes go perfectly with ethnic and other exotic dishes.
Sold at MuYu, the directly managed store of Wakasama Pottery, are selected items centering on wares from Wakasama Pottery.
Wakasama Ceramics is located near Nanai Station in the town of Mashiko, and promotes "Japanese handicrafts" and "genuine quality".
[Shop information]
Wakasama Pottery
Official blog:
https://wakasama-mashiko.com/
Tsumakomoto
Tsumakomotogama was established in 1864 and has a history of over 150 years, and is also known as Mashiko's largest kiln.
At a time when Mashiko pottery was struggling to survive after its shift to folk art, Tsukamoto was contracted to produce containers for the "Toge no Kamameshi" station lunch box sold at Yokogawa Station on the Shinetsu Line.
Tsukamoto gradually began to sell the product in the form of "Touge no Kamameshi," a boxed meal sold at Yokokawa Station on the Shinetsu Line.
Somewhere along the way, the demand for Touge no Kamameshi grew so great that the company could no longer cover the cost with its own production alone, so it placed orders with about 20 other potteries.
Quote:Tsukamoto official Instagram
This was the beginning of Mashiko pottery.
This led to the stabilization of the Mashiko pottery industry as a whole.
Tsukamoto is still active in the Mashiko pottery industry today.
Tsukamoto is committed to manufacturing products with the idea of "creating products in step with the times.
The "kamacco" 1 tsukiyaki, developed based on the concept of an earthenware pot for one person, is a product that demonstrates this attitude.
The headquarters is located in Mashiko Town, about 7 minutes by car from Mashiko Station.
In addition to the kiln factory, the vast site surrounded by nature has a gallery, hands-on workshops, and dining facilities where visitors can enjoy "seeing, buying, playing, and eating.
When visiting Mashiko, the first thing to do is to visit the kiln.
When you visit Mashiko, this is the kiln you want to visit first.
[Store Information]
Mashiko Pottery Tsukamoto
Address: 4264 Mashiko, Mashiko-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi
Opening hours: 9:00 - 17:00
Closed:
every Thursday
Official Website: http://tsukamoto.net/
Enokida Kiln
Dots, lattice, plants......
The eye-catching pattern is impressive "Enokida Kiln".
The vessels create a bright and lively dining table and are easy to match with both colorful salads and sober simmered dishes.
It is also popular with children.
The chunky texture is typical of Mashiko ware, and the bowl is comfortable to hold in the hand.
Wakaba Enoda, the fifth generation of the family, created the dot-patterned vessels.
She and her husband Satoshi and her father Katsuhiko, the fourth generation, make vessels at the main store in Mashiko Town.
The dotted and lattice patterns created by Ms. Wakaba are also painted using a method that has been handed down from generation to generation from the Enokida kiln, in which wax is applied and the glaze bounces off the surface.
The Enokida Kiln is also famous for its teapots.
Please pick one up along with the vessels.
The Enokida Kiln is both a studio and a store.
In addition to the main store, which is both a studio and a store, you can also enjoy freshly made soba noodles prepared by the fourth generation, Katsuhiko, at a branch a short distance away.
Of course, the vessels are from Enokida Kiln.
When you visit, you should definitely try the soba noodles made with the dough kneading power cultivated in the process of making vessels.
Enokidagama
Address: 4240 Mashiko, Mashiko-cho, Haga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture
Business hours: 10:00-16:00
Closed: Every Thursday
Official blog:
http://enokidagama.blog.fc2.com /
Yoshizawa Kiln
Quote:
yoshizawagama official (Instagram)
Yoshizawa Kiln's vessels warmly add color to your dining table with their chubby texture.
They make their products with "use" in mind.
They are very cute, yet durable and easy to use in daily life as they are microwave and dishwasher-safe, which is another point of their popularity.
The uniquely shaped vessels are very cute, yet they naturally look good with food when placed on the table.
It also has that charm.
They do not have a physical store, but are sold at the folk art store "Yamani Otsuka" in Mashiko Town, and can be purchased mainly through the online store "on the table".
Check the official Facebook page and mail magazine of "on the table" for information on new arrivals, etc.
Since many items are sold out soon after being announced, we recommend that you check often if there is an item you are interested in.
We also have a stall at the Mashiko Pottery Market, but every year it is very popular and numbered tickets are distributed before entry.
Some years we have had to apply for numbered tickets in advance, so if you are interested in visiting, check the official website for information before you head there.
Yoshizawa Kiln
Official Online store:
http://www.yoshizawa-gama.com/
Mashiko Pottery with added personality and new collaborations
Mashiko pottery has always been open to new ideas.
Today, many artists are still making their own
vessels.
I am sure you will say "Wow!
You are sure to find something that will make you say, "Wow!
Here we introduce some unique Mashiko pottery vessels.
Shapes that make dining enjoyable
We also have unique shaped dishes that take advantage of the chubby texture of Mashiko pottery.
The Kounofuku bread plate looks just like a piece of toast.
You can put bread on it, or you can put an egg dish or salad on it as if you were putting bread on top of it.
There are also dishes in the shape of koppebread.
The shades of color and pinholes that naturally form during the process of making the vessels are part of their character, and are points that we endear to them.
Utsuriwa that gives a sense of security and warmth
The thickness of Mashiko ware is one of its characteristics.
The vessels created by Yoshiko Kasahara are vessels that make you feel happy with such a sense of security.
For example, the buckwheat noodle cup has a thickly pitched beveled decoration and a moderate weight.
When you hold it in your hand, you will feel strangely relieved.
It can be used not only as an accompaniment for soba noodles or somen noodles, but also as a tea or coffee cup combined with a pot also made by Mr. Kasahara.
It is a warm cup that you want to hold in your hand when you want to relax.
Yoshiko Kasahara
These are the vessels of Kanae Aizawa, with illustrations that will soften your heart just by looking at them.
The gentle illustrations that match the warmth of Mashiko pottery make you feel at home every time you use it.
The pattern that makes you want to stare at it
The vessels created by Haru Tsukizoe are painted with a herringbone pattern that is hard to resist staring at.
They are not gaudy, but they are not gaudy at all.
The pattern, which is not flashy, but which makes you look at it unintentionally, is not painted on the surface, but is applied by scraping the surface shallowly.
The pattern is not painted.
One of the accents is that the pattern is drawn in a different direction in one part.
The glaze is black.
The glaze is not uniform in color, with some parts blackish and some parts whitish.
Collaboration with popular characters
PEANUTS
Quote: MASHICO official Instagram
Mashiko pottery, with a spirit that does not reject newness, preserves its traditions while also collaborating with others.
The scenes depicted in the PEANUTS comic books are painted with traditional Mashiko glazes, and the craftsmen's handiwork gives the vessels a warm and welcoming texture.
Lisa Larson
Quote: Lisa Larson JP official Instagram
Mikey, a striking cat with a striped body and raised eyes, and Lisa Larson, also famous for her gentle-eyed lion.
Lisa Larsson is a designer and one of Sweden's most famous ceramic artists.
She has a strong interest in Japanese culture.
She had a strong interest in Japanese culture, and when she met Shoji Hamada, one of the founders of Mashiko pottery, she dreamed of creating Mashiko pieces one day.
It was a dream come true.
This vessel is the realization of that dream.
We also have a stall at the Mashiko pottery market.
The Lisa Larson event was held in
Tsukamoto.
If you are interested, please check out the official Lisa Larson page, if you are interested.
Information about the pottery market
In Mashiko, a large pottery market is held every spring and fall, attracting many visitors.
Bus tours are also available, as the market is easily accessible from Tokyo.
The market is held twice a year, in spring and fall (Golden Week in spring and around November 3 in fall).
The pottery market started in 1966 and has been held over 100 times, attracting 600,000 visitors annually.
About 50 stores and 500 tents line the streets, where visitors can buy products while talking directly with the artists and craftspeople.
Transportation is also excellent, with buses going directly to the Mashiko Pottery Fair from Tokyo, and buses running around the Mashiko area.
"Mashiko Pottery Market"
■ Location: Various places in town (mainly in the Jouchizaka and Sayad districts)
■
Hours: 9:00 - 17:00
Big crowds are expected on the day of the market.
If you have a particular piece of pottery you are looking for, we recommend that you go early in the morning and stand in line, so that you will be in perfect condition.
There will be crowds early in the morning on the day of the exhibition, but the crowds and traffic tends to calm down a bit in the afternoon and evening.
If you want to take your time and enjoy the festival, you can also take public transportation and go out in the afternoon.
In addition, sometimes numbered tickets are given out before the pottery market starts for popular artists' stores.
If you are looking for a particular artist, you can find them here.
If there is an artist you are interested in, check the store's official website or SNS.
The main venue of the pottery market is also known as "Yakimono Hon-dori Street", which continues from the front of the station.
Since every corner of the town is a pottery market site, walking alone may be a little tiring.
Take a bus to the pottery market.
We hope you can enjoy the pottery market without overdoing it by taking the bus or taking a break at one of the nearby restaurants.
If you are coming from Tokyo, it would be better to take a direct bus from Akihabara or other places, or combine a train and bus to take a bus leaving from Utsunomiya Station.
Of course, you can also drive, but since traffic jams are expected, it is best to check the route and parking lots before you arrive on the day of the event.
If you are interested in the brands we have introduced, please contact us.
If you are interested in the brands introduced in this article
If you are interested in any of the brands introduced in this article, you can purchase their products from the
list below.
(Except for a few, such as Yoshizawa Kiln)
Please try to find your favorite.