This year, held concurrently at three venues in Tokyo
Mashiko is known as a production center for Mashiko ware, with a history dating back to the Edo period, and gained fame when the potter Shoji Hamada, a proponent of the Mingei movement, established his base there. Kasama, alongside Mashiko, is also renowned as a major ceramics production area, with nearly 300 ceramic artists creating works daily.



In recent years, artisans from various fields beyond ceramics have gathered in these two towns, fostering a strong sense of solidarity among those involved in craftsmanship throughout the region.



Trace of Hands, which began as a joint exhibition by Akio Nukaga, a ceramic artist in Kasama, and Hideki Takayama, a woodcraft artist in Mashiko, has expanded its scope this year. Works of ceramics and woodcraft by 19 artists from Kasama and Mashiko will be showcased at Playmountain and SHIZEN in Sendagaya, Tokyo, and Utsuwa Kaede in Minami-Aoyama.



As the season turns to autumn, why not take a stroll through the three venues, enjoying the crafts nurtured by this rich land?