Kutani Choemon Kiln Festival
The 3rd "ROKURO & KUMA MATSURI"

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The potter’s wheel, or rokuro —a rotating platform used in shaping clay— has supported the techniques and expressions of vessel making from ancient times to the present day. Yet what has nurtured Uede Choemon Kiln is not simply tools or techniques. Myth and history, culture and nature, and encounters with different cultures have all sustained us and stirred our imagination. What we call a “matsuri” can be seen as a place where all these elements come together.

With the bear joining the Rokuro Matsuri, this year marks the second edition of the “Rokuro and Bear Matsuri.” This year, bear sightings have become an increasingly serious issue in many parts of Japan. While reflecting on this reality, we also choose to see the bear as a symbol of mythology, culture, and nature. By contemplating the bear—an animal that embodies both fear and endearment—we hope to expand our imagination and consider the future we wish to create.

Once again this year, we have prepared a variety of programs, including tours of our workshop, where you can see firsthand the place where Kutani ware is made; the sale of limited-edition pieces created especially for the Rokuro Matsuri (and Bear); and a clay-pulling competition for adults.

For two days, clay and bears will spin together on the potter’s wheel. We warmly invite you to join us.