Mashiko, Tochigi
Encyclopedia
is a town
located in Haga District
, Tochigi
, Japan
. As of October 1, 2009, the town has an estimated population
of 24,760 and a density
of 277 persons per km². The total area is 89.54 km².
, called . Early pottery in Mashiko dates back to the Jōmon and Yayoi periods. Mashikoyaki is often thought of as a simple and rustic in style, brown with maybe a little red glaze,but modern pottery made in Mashiko today is found in many styles, because of the creative freedom brought to Mashiko by Shoji Hamada
. Modern Mashikoyaki dates only to 1853, when a potter discovered that local clay here was ideal for ceramics. The style was popularized in 1930 when Hamada, later designated as a Living National Treasure
, set up a kiln in Mashiko. Hamada′s student, Tatsuzō Shimaoka
, was also designated as a Living National Treasure and worked in Mashiko from 1953 until his death in 2007.
Mashiko is a folkware kiln site that is unlike some of the other older kiln sites around Japan. The town is open to newcomers whether they be potters or others with professional backgrounds in arts, science and education. In Japan craftsmen were usually born into their profession but in Mashiko, anyone could be a potter.
There are two different types of pottery available for purchase in Mashiko. All around the center of town you will find shops selling tableware like plates, bowls and cups. There are also more specialized stores that offer artistic pieces, often, one of a kind.
, a Buddhist temple with several important cultural relics (as designated by the national and prefectural governments), is located in Mashiko.
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
located in Haga District
Haga District, Tochigi
Haga is a district located in Tochigi, Japan.As of 2011, the district has an estimated population of 66,852 and a density of 169 persons per km². The total area is 396,72 km².- Towns and villages :*Haga*Ichikai*Mashiko*Motegi-Merger:...
, Tochigi
Tochigi Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kantō region on the island of Honshū, Japan. The capital is the city of Utsunomiya.Nikkō, whose ancient Shintō shrines and Buddhist temples UNESCO has recognized by naming them a World Heritage Site, is in this prefecture...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. As of October 1, 2009, the town has an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 24,760 and a density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 277 persons per km². The total area is 89.54 km².
Culture
Mashiko is known for its potteryPottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
, called . Early pottery in Mashiko dates back to the Jōmon and Yayoi periods. Mashikoyaki is often thought of as a simple and rustic in style, brown with maybe a little red glaze,but modern pottery made in Mashiko today is found in many styles, because of the creative freedom brought to Mashiko by Shoji Hamada
Shoji Hamada
was a Japanese potter. He was a significant influence on studio pottery of the twentieth century, and a major figure of the mingei folk-art movement, establishing the town of Mashiko as a world-renowned pottery centre.- Biography :...
. Modern Mashikoyaki dates only to 1853, when a potter discovered that local clay here was ideal for ceramics. The style was popularized in 1930 when Hamada, later designated as a Living National Treasure
Living National Treasure (Japan)
is a Japanese popular term for those individuals certified as by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as based on Japan's...
, set up a kiln in Mashiko. Hamada′s student, Tatsuzō Shimaoka
Tatsuzo Shimaoka
was a Japanese mingei potter who studied under Hamada Shoji and later became the second Living National Treasure of Mashiko, Japan. He was best known for his unique Jōmon zogan style of pottery, and was a master of many slip decorating and firing techniques for pottery...
, was also designated as a Living National Treasure and worked in Mashiko from 1953 until his death in 2007.
Mashiko is a folkware kiln site that is unlike some of the other older kiln sites around Japan. The town is open to newcomers whether they be potters or others with professional backgrounds in arts, science and education. In Japan craftsmen were usually born into their profession but in Mashiko, anyone could be a potter.
There are two different types of pottery available for purchase in Mashiko. All around the center of town you will find shops selling tableware like plates, bowls and cups. There are also more specialized stores that offer artistic pieces, often, one of a kind.
Recent trends
In general, the countryside in Japan has suffered major population loss since World War Two but this is not the case in Mashiko. Following Shoji Hamada, people looking to return to a more traditional Japanese lifestyle settled in the area.Places of worship
Saimyō-jiSaimyō-ji
is the name of numerous Buddhist temples in Japan.Below is an incomplete list:*Saimyō-ji in Kora, Shiga Prefecture. Its Main Hall and Pagoda are National Treasure of Japan.*Saimyō-ji in Mashiko, Tochigi Prefecture....
, a Buddhist temple with several important cultural relics (as designated by the national and prefectural governments), is located in Mashiko.