The Mashiko art spirit “Mingei“ and sake culture
This experiential program will be guided by Mr.Shigeki Tonoike, the head of Tonoike Sake Brewery, Mashiko’s only sake brewery. For generations, the Tonoike family has had ties with Mashiko ware artists and has made sake while working hard to contribute to the development of the local area. Led by the current head, Mr.Shigeki Tonoike of the Tonoike family, who is deeply trusted by the locals, we will be able to interact with the potters who have created the history of Mashiko ware and see their workplaces. You will also visit Tonoike Sake Brewery, which produces excellent sake that has won numerous awards in sake competitions around the world, and experience a special sake tasting. Mashiko is home to the Shoji Hamada Memorial Mashiko Museum, a hub for “Mingei” culture, whose director is the potter Mr. Tomoo Hamada, grandson of the potter Mr.Shoji Hamada (Living National Treasure, 1894-1978). This is where Shoji Hamada, who made Mashiko ware known around the world, lived and worked hard at pottery, and it was also a place of interaction with ceramicists from Japan and abroad, including Mr.Bernard Leach(British potter, 1887-1979). Mashiko pottery continues to convey the value of “beauty of utility” that begins with the clay, and together with the abundant nature of the Mashiko region, it expresses the true richness that modern people tend to lose sight of, and continues to attract many people from Japan and abroad.
Hamada Kiln(Ceramic artist Tomoo Hamada)
Akashi Pottery Studio(Ceramic artist Shosaku Akashi)
Yuushin-Gama(Ceramic artist Ken Matsuzaki)
You will feel the Mashiko art spirits ” Mingei” by spending time with renowned potters who live and work in Mashiko in their studios and galleries. After visiting the pottery culture, you will enjoy the sake culture at Tonoike Sake Brewery, where you will enjoy a special sake tasting in a Mashiko ware matcha tea bowl, an experience unique to this world-famous pottery production region, and a pairing experience with local ingredients in a special room in the historic main house. Through this experiential program, you will learn about a part of the “Mingei” spirit that has been passed down in the Mashiko area, and realize that sake culture has developed in a deep connection with local culture.
 Approx time: about 3 hours～5hours depends on plans. |
 Experience Fee: Please contact us for custom-made plans |
 Number of people available for reservation: 2～6 people |
Optional experience
If you want to experience even more of the charm of Mashiko pottery and Mashiko sake, we recommend a special pairing dinner of Mashiko sake and Italian cuisine made with ingredients from Tochigi Prefecture. Please contact us for details of this special dinner in a restaurant ?”Gustare Kanoya” at Utsunomiya where excellent Italian cuisine, making the most of the flavors of the ingredients, is served on Mashiko pottery.
