Archive for the ‘Retailer’
Festivals on the Edge: Tsukimi-do
There’s a mysterious shop in a place called Suginuma that is run by a mysterious couple. I was drawn to them because of an improvised concert that was held on May 16, 2009 which was so beautiful, holy, and wonderful. It’s hard to express exactly what they are in just a word or two. You could call them avant garde musicians, and you could also call them shop owners. They’re clearly different from regular people, living in a way that we don’t encounter often.
Spreading the Word about Pottery: Utsuwa Shoken
There’s a little pottery gallery hidden away near Kamakura’s Kataseyama Station on the Shonan Monorail. The name of the shop is Utsuwa Shoken. If you walk down the quiet residential street, you’ll find its little signboard there. Look past the signboard and there’s a lovely building situated up on high ground. This is Utsuwa Shoken. For some reason even on a weekday afternoon the customers come in a steady stream. Despite the tough economic situation and the less-than convenient location, people still gather here. The person behind this wonderful place is a multitalented woman. In addition to running the shop, she also writes and edits for print, as well as producing music. Her name is Tomoo Shoken. She’s got a remarkable ability to execute her own vision one after another. We discussed her secret over tea.
Ashes to Dishes: Ougaku Tougei
Sakurajima has a special place in the hearts of the Kagoshima people. It’s an active volcano located in Kagoshima Bay, just off the coast from Kagoshima City. The volcano has minor eruptions on a regular basis even today. Sakurajima-yaki is a local pottery made from volcanic ash and natural hot spring water. It’s completely unique to the Sakurajima area. The pieces themselves have a primal quality that speaks of the dynamic source of the materials. The makers of Sakurajima-yaki run a little kiln at the base of the volcano called Ougaku Tougei. The kiln they run isn’t a traditional one with several generations of history. It was in fact established one generation ago by a man who managed to make his passion a success within his lifetime.
