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March 22, 2022
Harnessing Nature's Bounty: Tottori's Charms on Display at the "Kinanse Tottori!" Event
LOUNGE | "Kinanse Tottori!"
What is "Kinanse Tottori!"? Exploring the Charms of Tottori
Tottori Prefecture, with its vast natural landscapes, offers more than just scenery. Its appeal also lies in its people, products, and cuisine, including "Tottori Mingei" (traditional crafts) and "Tottori Gibier," renowned for its high quality nationwide. The event "Kinanse Tottori!," where visitors can fully experience these charms, was held from Wednesday, March 16 to Monday, March 21, 2022. Prior to this, a "Tottori Mingei & Gibier Seminar" was also held on Wednesday, March 16, 2022.
Tottori's Pride: "Tottori Mingei" and "Tottori Gibier." Crafts, artisans, and cuisine—all connected to nature, nurturing a rich local life.
Tottori Prefecture boasts magnificent nature and abundant techniques and cuisine that harness it. "Tottori Mingei" and "Tottori Gibier" represent the natural resources and skills that must be preserved for the future, along with the local people who support them, breathing life into the region's charm.
"Tottori Mingei" began to spread around 1931, championed by Dr. Shoya Yoshida, who resided in Tottori. Driven by a desire to make "Mingei"—the concept of beauty created by Soetsu Yanagi—a part of daily life, he established an organization that encompassed the planning, design, production, distribution, sales, and consumption of new folk crafts, while respecting tradition.
The revival of Ushinoue ware, which had declined in the early Showa period, was achieved through Yoshida's guidance and the dedicated efforts of the fourth generation of the kiln's family. Ushinoue ware, gaining attention from the early Showa period to the present, is simple yet robust. The blue and black divided plates convey a design that pursues beauty and enriches life.
Yoshida Shoya's passion for folk crafts continues to be passed down to many artisans today, serving as a testament to Tottori's appeal.
"Tottori Gibier," a culinary highlight of Tottori recognized nationwide for its high quality.
Born from a pioneering nationwide initiative where all stakeholders involved in gibier—hunters, restaurants, and others—collaborate, the aim has always been to produce delicious gibier. The promotion of "Tottori Gibier" began in earnest around 2012, achieving top-tier utilization rates nationwide and earning high praise from chefs at renowned restaurants outside the prefecture.
Based on the internationally recognized hygiene management system "HACCP," Tottori has independently implemented the "Tottori Prefecture HACCP Compliance Facility Certification System" to provide even higher quality gibier. Furthermore, research into capture and processing techniques, along with rigorous hygiene management, are key reasons for its widespread attention.
By encouraging more people to enjoy gibier, it contributes to SDGs in various fields, including preventing crop damage, maintaining ecosystems, and preserving satoyama (traditional rural landscapes), ensuring that its rich natural environment continues to thrive.
Event "Kinanse Tottori!" and "Tottori Mingei & Gibier Seminar" Showcase Tottori's Charms
The "Kinanse Tottori!" Tottori Prefecture Popup Showroom event, highlighting Tottori's techniques, artisans, producers, and natural resources to be preserved for the future, was held from March 16 to 21, 2022, at "MuSuBu," a pop-up event space in Shirokanedai, Tokyo. The event offered an experience of Tottori Mingei and Tottori Prefecture's cuisine, alongside an introduction to Tottori's initiatives.
Attendees could savor gibier dishes, sweets made with rare strawberry varieties, and "Sunaba Coffee," created inspired by a famous quote from the Governor of Tottori Prefecture. There were also hands-on activities like "deer leather bracelet making" and an online interaction with the local restaurant "Mikitaen Ryori Mikitaen."
Prior to the event, the "Tottori Mingei & Gibier Seminar" for the media, held on March 16, 2022, introduced Tottori's charms deeply connected to nature, further enhancing the appeal of the "Kinanse Tottori!" event.
"Kinanse Tottori!" is an event where one can experience Tottori's cultural charms all at once. We look forward to its next iteration.
Inquiries
Tottori Prefectural Government Tokyo Office
Tel. 03-5212-9186
