2020 is a special year for pottery in Mino, the Ceramic Valley of Japan. There is the grand International Ceramics Festival and competition, where three cities in the historic Mino Province - now a part of Gifu Prefecture - join forces to present the ceramic culture and industry in the region. Many events will take place here. Of interest next month is the Momoyama pottery exhibition at The Tajimi City Minoyaki Museum.  The Azuchi–Momoyama period is the final phase of the Sengoku or Warring States period in Japan and It spans the years from c. 1573 to 1600. It was a time of constant war, but also of new heights in the world of pottery. The samurai had taken Zen and the tea ceremony to heart, and fine tea bowls were highly valued and admired. Bowls produced in the Mino region belong to the finest in this tradition. We have covered the development of Mino ware during this period extensively on this site.

This special exhibition of Momoyama Mino ware opens on February 14 (Fri) and lasts until May 17 (Sun). This is an opportunity to see some of the most brilliant pottery ever created in Japan. The museum also offer opportunities to drink from tea bowls made by the masters in Mino, as well as English speaking guides.

This exhibition is a real treat for the art lover! You will find a variety of art in the style of Komura Settai, many of them his own works, some by others and some contemporary. We spent hours in the exhibition halls. Recommended!

Tajimi Tourist Association is now running a program including around 70 different experiences where you can see and try a wide variety of ceramics and pottery related creative work.  Experiences available in English are listed in this article. Tajimi sits in the centre of the world's largest ceramics production area. The program runs from October 10 (Thur) to December 22 (Sun). A downloadable pamphlet is available here. Check our event calendar to see what is going on day by day. Welcome!

Ishoken is a ceramic research center under the direction of Nakashima Harumi, an internationally well known ceramics artist. The centre is located in Tajimi city, a famous ceramics production district in Japan. The products made in this area are called Mino-Yaki ware. 
 
There is a growing number of young students at this internationally acclaimed educational institution. The centre is now accepting new students. You can find the application form here above as well as additional information on the Internet:

https://www.city.tajimi.lg.jp/ishoken/02_apply/lab_i.html
 
The centre accepts visits between 9:00-17:00 (Japan time) on weekday. If you have any further inquiries, please feel free to contact them in English or Japanese.

HP: https://www.city.tajimi.lg.jp/ishoken/
Email: ishoken-jinzai@city.tajimi.lg.jp
 
For further information, please access the Ishoken Facebook page and Instagram library:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ishoken
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ishoken_ceramic/

The Ho-Ca pottery workshop in Tajimi is attracting an increasing number of foreign students, most of whom stay for a month to take one of the courses on offer. Ho-Ca has just opened a gallery in the vicinity of the workshop and opens with an exhibition of works by some of the students from the last few years. The exhibition is running from July 7 (Sun) to July 14 (Sun) and admission is free. Please inquire about the details.

We have published an article on the Ho-Ca experience on this site featuring a video interview with students as well as an interview with Master Shibata.

We have started offering VR tours of Tajimi for people curious about life on the countryside of Japan. The free tours have three seats are held monthly. You will be guided alone or in a small group of up to three virtual travelers. Hans O. Karlsson, an experienced tour guide, Japanologist and VR producer, leads the group through 360 photo spheres. VR headset recommended but not obligatory. To learn more, click here.

Address: 4 Chome-2-5 Higashimachi, Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture 507-0801
Phone: 0572-28-3100
Directions: Click here for Google Maps directions from your location to the venue.

Opening hours: 10:00 - 18:00 (admission to 17:30)
Museum closed: Mondays, year end holidays (Dec 29 - Jan 3)
Admission fee: Adults 1,000 yen, Students 800 yen, children up to high school age: free
Note: The fee includes admission to the Finnish Design Exhibition "Marimekko Spirit".

Finnish arts and crafts received international attention and acclaim at the World Exhibition in Paris, 1900. The success became an inspirational force for a land still under Russian control to strive for national independence, and vitalized the Finnish arts and crafts movement. It developed into a cultural climate in Finland that has been described as a utopia for the creator.

By the middle of the 20th century this  movement had become an influence in the world of arts and crafts around the globe. The richness of Finnish artistic expression had a considerable impact in Japan.

2018 marks the 100 year anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Finland and Japan. This exhibition is the first ever to offer a comprehensive display of Finnish ceramics. You are invited to enjoy exhibits of an array of Finnish artistic expression, including renowned works from the 1950's and 60's. 

A series of lectures and presentations will be made in Japanese. Please inquire if you are interested in attending.
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The Gifu Prefecture Museum of Modern Ceramic Arts (Gifuken Gendaitogei) is located in Tajimi City, cirka 40 min ride by local train from Nagoya. Nagoya can be reached in one and a half hours by bullet train from Tokyo, and in even shorter time from Osaka or Kyoto. The city is located in the world's largest ceramics production area. You will find many other things to see and do related to ceramics in Tajimi.

Detailed information on access here.
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Click here for directions by Google Maps.

Artists exhibited:

Paavo Halonen (web site here)
Maija Louekari (web site here)
Aino-Maija Metsola (web site here)

Address: 4 Chome-2-5 Higashimachi, Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture 507-0801
Phone: 0572-28-3100
Map: Click here for Google Maps directions from your location to the venue.

The Gifu Prefecture Museum of Modern Ceramic Arts (Gifuken Gendaitogei) is located in Tajimi City, cirka 40 min ride by local train from Nagoya. Nagoya can be reached in one and a half hours by bullet train from Tokyo, and in even shorter time from Osaka or Kyoto. The city is located in the world's largest ceramics production area. You will find many other things to see and do related to ceramics in Tajimi.

​Detailed information on access here.

Futao Aoyama-sensei, whom we interviewed and presented in a series of articles on this site, has been recognized by the City of Tajimi as Holder of an Intangible Cultural Asset (Shiro Tenmoku). Mr. Aoyama has spent decades trying to reproduce the Shiro Tenmoku (White Tenmoku tea bowl). This pottery is - along with Seto Guro - the only kinds of pottery known to have originated in Japan. After many years of research and test production Mr. Aoyama was able to reproduce Shiro Tenmoku very similar to the three remaining samples from 16th century Japan. He succeeded by using clay from his home village Onada, as well as the ash glazing typical for the historical kilns in the area. This is viewed as strong evidence that the historic Shiro Tenmoku were produced in Onada, and thus that Tajimi is home to one of the two kinds of native Japanese pottery styles. The image shows the making of a 360 still photography of Mr. Aoyama in his studio. The photo is available in our articles about the master potter.

​Visit the Ceramic Park in Tajimi to view and buy exquisite pottery. Prices range from a few dollars to tens and thousands of dollars. May 3rd - 6th, 10:00 - 17:00. There is also a very nice exhibition of Danish design, focused on furniture (and there is ceramics as well). See our news article here.

Get information on the Museum, access, etc. here.

View a nice panorama exhibition photo here :-).

Access information for Tajimi here.