The International Ceramics Festival Mino’24 JAPAN will begin this year. From October 18th to November 17th, 2024, a total of 31 days will be devoted to the exhibition. The "International Ceramics Exhibition Mino" and its associated "Industry, Culture, and Regional Development Project" sub-event are intended to benefit Japan's eastern Mino region, the Mino pottery industry, and ceramic culture.
In this article, we interviewed Mr. Michinaka Hosono, Chief Director, Executive Committee Office of International Ceramics Festival Mino, Japan, and Mr. Hotta, a member of the International Ceramics Festival Executive Committee, about the festival's contents and points of interest.
Mr. Michinaka Hosono (white shirt) and Mr. Hotta (third from the left ), together with the other festival staff.
The triennially held festival's profile has been steadily rising on a global scale. Steps have been taken for more continuity in the preparations. This time, the organiser's usage of worldwide social networking sites including Instagram and Facebook contributed to more friendly engagement with people overseas, and that resulted in more applications. The organisers benefited from the support of previous foreign prize winners, which has opened doors and greatly facilitated exchange during overseas campaign tours.
The main event is an international competition with a selection from thousands of ceramic artists worldwide. The scope of the festival has grown significantly, and it is now the largest in the world in terms of the number of entries. More than two thousand artists from 77 countries and regions submitted 3890 works to the screening committee. The abundance of entries ensures that this year's festival will showcase an unparalleled calibre of works chosen for the final display. Anyone with even a passing interest in ceramics should make it to this festival.
Call for entries to Korea by CHOI Jaehoon (right), Grand Prix winner 2002
Several governmental and industrial groups are supporting the activities, which have the support of Gifu Prefecture, Tajimi City, Mizunami City, Toki City, and Kani City. Gifu Prefecture and its governor are strongly involved and are hosting a multitude of venues for local cultural and industrial events.
An international ceramics competition, the International Ceramics Exhibition Mino serves as the event's centrepiece, with the dual goals of fostering growth in the ceramics industry and raising cultural awareness via the dissemination of ceramic art and design across the world. A group of respected judges will select pieces from worldwide submissions, and over 200 will be displayed. According to the organisers, "the focus will be on 'The Future of Ceramics. Work that doesn't follow preconceived notions and that uses free thinking to open up new possibilities for the future of pottery.
Curiously, a foreign individual handled the main venue's design this time. Patrick Reymond is a famous Swiss designer who has done remarkable work in architecture and graphic design. Reymond is recognised as a prominent designer and architect in Switzerland. He is affiliated with Atelier Oï, where he serves as a co-director alongside other prominent figures in design and architecture. His approach combines a deep appreciation for local craftsmanship with global design influences, often focusing on sustainable practices and innovative use of materials. This seems to align well with the goals of the Mino International Ceramics exhibition.
Patrick Reymond is affiliated with Atelier Oï in Switzerland
The sub-event (industry, culture, and regional development initiatives), which aims to spread the allure and variety of Mino pottery throughout the region, will nurture businesses that foster growth in Mino's ceramics industry, culture, and region. This time around, the organisers have devised four themes centred on the concept of "captivating with Mino ware." They are: (1) Mino ware and food; (2) Mino ware and flowers; (3) Mino ware and music; and (4) Mino ware and individuals.
MINO's charm lies in its human connections.
We asked Mr. Michinaka Hosono, Chief Director, Executive Committee Office of International Ceramics Festival Mino, to talk about what kinds of things would fascinate foreign visitors. One reason is its global scope. This event, he told us, has attracted attention from all over the world. This is a significant improvement from previous festivals.
"There just wasn't enough time to organise because the coordinating committee used to disband after each festival and reconstitute the next year. In other words, there were less than two years to prepare for these big festivals. This time around, we could start right after the last festival was over. We spent a whole year travelling to eight different countries to find artists to take part. The fact that we were able to approach people from all over the world who know the Mino region was a major advance this time around. What is more, we broke all previous records for application volume thanks to our social media marketing. This has catapulted the festival to the forefront of global attention, inspiring foreign festival organisers to try to replicate our formula."
“Being a leader at the sixth and seventh International Ceramics Festival Mino," he continues, "brought me a wonderful opportunity as well since it allowed me to strengthen the bonds I developed there. Additionally, we welcome the kind collaboration of prior winners and jury members. I'm appreciative of the continuous encouragement from previous finalists. It isn't as simple as winning and then ignoring all responsibilities. Instead, they have been quite helpful to us throughout our visits to their countries. From 1986, our International Ceramics Festival Mino has carried with it the tradition of personal relationships. And as I toured every countries in this campaign, I discovered that Mino is related to important people in each one of them.
This demonstrates that the past prize winners, who are very important to us, and the festival organisers genuinely cared about each other and that their overall feelings will be expressed. All of these elements have combined to produce a vast number of submissions, many of which are rather exceptional. I have a sense that the festival will be a very great one, and even more so in the future."
This demonstrates that the past prize winners, who are very important to us, and the festival organisers genuinely cared about each other and that their overall feelings will be expressed. All of these elements have combined to produce a vast number of submissions, many of which are rather exceptional. I have a sense that the festival will be a very great one, and even more so in the future."
A collection of bags serves as a testament to the organizing committee’s extensive international travels, connecting with foreign museums and other institutions
"Jingdezhen Ceramics University in China has also offered invaluable help. Sending ceramic works—many of which are big, bulky, and fragile—by postal mail is very costly. This time, around 30 Chinese artists and students are participating in the contest. Shipping products between China and Japan isn't without its difficulties, such as financial and logistical ones. Nevertheless, the Chinese institution graciously volunteered to arrange for the shipment of the artwork to and back from Japan. "We can save a lot of money and prevent a lot of hassle if these artists simply combine their mailing and returning into one process, something that benefits them as well," Mr. Hosono explains.
Lyu Pinchang (left), President of Jingdezhen Ceramics University, China
Entering the digital age has also helped a lot in saving costs for the contestants. In the old days, all the contestants had to send in their pieces for initial screening—thousands of pieces from all over the world. "Now, however," Mr. Hosono says, "they can send over digital images, from which we pick around 200 final entries that will all be exhibited in the contest. This time, we have over 3000 entries and over 200 final entries that will be displayed in the contest venue."
Over the years, the prize money has increased. Starting in 1986, the prize money started at around 2 million yen (approx. USD 12,000) and is now around 5 million (approx. USD 31,000). Still, prize money is far from the only reason for pottery enthusiasts to pay attention to the festival, and for this, strong signals need to be sent out. Mr. Hosono finds it especially significant that the competition is no longer limited to Japan and its close neighbours, China and South Korea, but has reached out across the world. "I think, he explains, "it is of great significance that the name Mino, the name of the historical province in this region, is becoming known abroad." Indeed, the Mino region has a long and deep history as a ceramic region, and we have covered this topic in a multitude of articles.
Highlights of the International Ceramics Festival in Mino
"One interesting aspect of this year's festival," he continues, "is that we can design the exhibition itself according to those final entries. We have employed the services of Patrick Reymond, a notable Swiss designer known for his work in both graphic design and architecture. This marks a fresh presence at the festival. When the event was first held, major domestic companies and others were used for the venue design, but this time, in a novel decision, Mr. Raymond, who is also one of the jury members, was asked to design the venue as well."
Another important aspect of the festival is that it's not exclusively about ceramics in isolation. Instead, it covers all our five senses in a wider context, for example, Mino ware and food, Mino ware and touch, or Mino ware and sound. Visitors will experience how Mino ware touches all senses, as well as your heart. Coffee will be served in Mino ware cups, lunch on Mino ware tableware, and tea in the Japanese tea room in Mino ware bowls made by master Kato Kozo (1935–2023). Master Kato was a Living National Treasure. specialising in Mino Momoyama pottery. For sound, visitors can enjoy music played on instruments crafted from Mino ware ceramics. A special concert for Mino ware instruments will be held by professional ocarina player Kaori Suzuki, who will play a Mino ware ocarina (made by SUELABO, Mizunami City), as well as several mini-concerts by Mino ware ocarina school students.
There are a number of sites that will serve the purpose of promoting the ceramics sector in the region, which is another one of the goals. For instance, there will be guided tours of exclusive factories that are not usually accessible to the public. "To put it another way," Mr. Hosano explains, "attendees of the event will be able to enjoy the entire area and its surroundings. We want everyone to have a memorable experience that lasts more than just one day."
As the conversation came to an end, Mr. Hosono voiced his hope that the festival would keep developing into an even more worldwide and unique event in the next few years.
fact sheet
Summary of sub-events
The Industry, Culture, and Regional Development Project comprises a multitude of events in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The project aims to promote Minoware, raise awareness, and develop the local industry. Sponsored events will take place in four cities in the Mino region of Gifu to boost mutual publicity and foster cooperation. They include such highlights as an art brut exhibition featuring ceramic works created by people with disabilities, an exhibition by the Tajimi City Design Research Institute and the Tajimi Technical High School Specialised Department Ceramics Exhibition, as well as a Minoware exhibition organised by the Ceramic Valley Council. The festival also includes a cultural exchange project with Herend trainees from Hungary, a kintsugi restoration demonstration, and wood-fired kiln firings. Other events include the 26th Mino Tea Bowl Exhibition and the Minoyaki Open Factory Guide Map Project.
Admission tickets
The admission ticket types and prices for the International Ceramics Festival in Mino 24 are as follows:
Pre-opening tickets for the 7-theatre set:
1,200 yen, while event tickets cost 1,500 yen.
Mino International Ceramics Exhibition, Single Tickets:
Adults (19 years and older): 800 yen
Seniors (65 and over): 700 yen
In addition, following on from the previous festival, there will be a stamp rally that takes visitors to all the facilities included in the 7-facility set ticket.
Pre-opening tickets for the 7-theatre set:
1,200 yen, while event tickets cost 1,500 yen.
Mino International Ceramics Exhibition, Single Tickets:
Adults (19 years and older): 800 yen
Seniors (65 and over): 700 yen
In addition, following on from the previous festival, there will be a stamp rally that takes visitors to all the facilities included in the 7-facility set ticket.
Festival Official SNS
