|
SPECIAL FEATURE STORY
Hamada Shoji's
Mashiko Reference Collection Museum
3388 Mashiko, Mashiko City
Haga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture, 321-4217
TEL: 0285-72-5300
Open: 9:30 am - 16:30 pm
Closed: Monday, National Holidays & February
Click photos to view larger images.
 
Some past Living National Treasure potters have memorial museums. It's a wonderful way to see their works, and learn about their lives, in the settings where they created. I can think of the Arakawa Toyozo and Fujiwara Kei museums as examples. This past weekend (9 March 2002), I and a group of twenty-four people, left the concrete jungle of Tokyo and traveled two hours or so to the land of Mashiko. Mashiko, as many of you already know, is a world-famous potting center that is forever indebted to one man -- Hamada Shoji. For a bit more on Hamada, please view the below links:
Hamada was a man who threw out his ego and found self-acceptance and understanding from his work, family, friends, and the art he collected the world over. Such was his enlightened state that he chose to name his museum the Sankou-kan or Reference Collection, not the Hamada Shoji Museum. The purpose was not to glorify his own work yet to have it sit side-by-side other crafts that nourished him throughout his life. He wanted to share that with others as well and hence the collection.
 |
It's not only the collection that is worth the visit but also to stroll around the wonderful grounds. Hamada had a large country compound with fine gatehouses, stone kura, and a classic minka farmer's house with a thatched roof; it stands four stories high. Next to it is the workshop just as it was when Hamada worked there. I could imagine him and Leach walking in through the door to sit down at the wheel and throw a few pots. Actually, Hamada's grandson Tomoo was kind enough to lead our group around the compound and he demonstrated how his grandfather would throw a pot on the hand-powered wheel (see photo below).
  
Above Photos: Tomoo at the wheel; Hamada's workshop; Hamada's kiln
 
Above: Hamada's house; inside the workshop
Below: Entrance to the museum
 
The noborigama is eight chambers and is designated as a Mashiko Intangible Cutlural Property. It stands right behind the workshop (see photo near top of page).
 Tomoo is a fine potter and is broadening the Hamada and Mashiko traditions with his own designs. He had a very successful exhibition at Mitsukoshi last year.
I hope you enjoy the photos, and also that one day you may visit this very special place.
Click photos to see larger images.
 
  
Above Photo: Calligraphy by Munakata Shiko
|
