The Setomono Festival is a pottery market held in Seto City, Aichi Prefecture, where Setomono was born. This festival has been held since 1932 (Showa 7), before the war, and is one of the largest pottery markets in Japan , attracting hundreds of thousands of people . This year, more than 150 groups of kilns, ceramic artists, and ceramic manufacturers are participating.
It all began with an industrial festival to honor the legacy of Kato Tamikichi , the founder of porcelain who brought porcelain production to Seto. On the morning of the first day, the festival begins with a Shinto ritual at Kamagami Shrine, which enshrines Tamikichi. Surprisingly, even his descendants are in attendance.
This year, the Aichi International Art Festival will also be held on the same day, so Seto is expected to be a very lively place. Let us show you around the venue!
The venue is right outside Owari Seto Station
The general venue is within a 500m radius along the Seto River, which flows in front of Owari Seto Station.
*Due to road closures and traffic restrictions, we recommend coming by train if possible.
Please check here for parking information.
The event is open from 9am to 6pm on Saturdays and from 9am to 5:30pm on Sundays, but every year it seems like pottery enthusiasts show up a little early.
At the festival, potters and ceramic artists from all over the country, including Seto potters, set up stalls. Even for locals, it is quite difficult to find where the Seto ware stalls are set up...!
Original tableware from " Soujuen ." I'm looking forward to the new cat-patterned tableware that is scheduled to be released.
There are many other Seto ware and kilns besides those marked with blue marks on the map, so it might be a good idea to head to the place you are looking for and enjoy the surrounding area.
Once you've passed through, it's difficult to turn back, so please check this map before you set off. Please note that the ever-popular "SUIYO" will not be participating!
"Blue Square" where traditional crafts such as "Seto Sometsuke ware" are gathered
" Shin Kiln ." Painted with a thick dami brush.
At "Ao no Hiroba" (Blue Square), the traditional craft "Seto Sometsuke ware" is on sale. This year, in addition to demonstrations and experience corners, an exhibition of artisans' tools, and an exhibition of works by traditional craftsmen, there will also be a quiz where you can be entered into a lottery to win Seto Sometsuke ware by simply answering a quiz.
Personally, I've been interested in "Hozan Kiln" which I saw on Instagram about Seto Sometsuke ware, and I'd like to visit. The charm of Seto is that even if you live there for years, you can suddenly find a pottery studio you've never heard of.
A hidden gem to check out is "Saitama Monohiroba"
"Saitama Mono Hiroba" is located on the far left side of the map.
This area has a completely different atmosphere from the bargain market and is run by Gallery Taiyo in Seto City, where young artists appear.
A work by Tsugumi Takahashi .
" FUJI POTTERY " Yoshiaki Ashikawa .
Pottery artists Daisuke Murai and Yoko Murai will also be making an appearance, so if you're interested in seeing them, we recommend you get there early! Many other artists will also be appearing, so be sure to check it out.
Relax at "Masukichi" just off the Seto Ginza Shopping Street
The Ceramics Festival is being held in the scorching heat, and everyone is walking around looking for a place to sit, so if you have time, please come and take a relaxing break at Masukichi .
We also have a limited edition Kudzu Ice from Japanese Sweets Shop Miyoshiya Rosen, perfect for hot weather! If you order a drink, you can bring in food.
They sell Seto ware pottery, so it's perfect for those who want to buy everything at once.
We also carry products from potters who are not participating in the Pottery Festival.
Works & photos: Glass artist Tetsuya Tanaka Kun.
This year, glass artist Tetsuya Tanaka, a graduate of the Seto New Century Crafts Museum, will be setting up a stall!
Furthermore, Seto is the number one producer of silica sand, the raw material for glass, in Japan, so the training facility, the Seto New Century Crafts Museum, attracts not only ceramic artists but also glass artists.
Trainees from the Seto City New Century Crafts Museum will be appearing at the Seto Machi Tsukuri-te Center !
A look from the past. Three-dimensional artist Kyoichi Morimasa .
A look from the past. Glass artist Nakamura Mana.
The Seto Machi Tsukuri-te Center will feature trainees currently working at the Seto City New Century Crafts Museum. Every year we get to meet wonderful artists, so we're looking forward to seeing who will be working this year!
In addition, the nearby Graduates will also be setting up stalls at the Seto City New Century Crafts Museum, so be sure to check that out too.
Ceramic artist Ryo Fukada's studio gallery
Ceramic artist Ryo Fukada exhibits and sells his works at Gallery Ukibanashi, a gallery attached to his studio, located close to the main venue. The Ceramics Festival is basically just about selling products, but with his studio right next door, it's a lot of fun.
Kiyoko Mori from Pottery Ki and Kurage from Craft Studio Lazuli will also be exhibiting as invited artists!
Gallery Utensil Talk
Address: 1-18 Higashihonmachi, Seto City, Aichi Prefecture
Access: 9 minutes walk from Owari Seto Station
Business hours: 9:30am - 5pm
The annual Seto Hongyo Kiln storehouse sale
Although it is about 2km away from the main venue, the "Kuradeichi Market" by " Seto Hongyo Kiln ," which creates products with a focus on the philosophy of "Mingei," is extremely popular.
This is a special sale of slightly imperfect pottery from the year's production, and is a project that fans look forward to! Be prepared to wait in line, so we recommend going first thing in the morning.
Seto Hongyo Kiln <br>Address: 17 Higashihoracho, Seto City, Aichi Prefecture
Access: About a 30-minute walk from Owari Seto Station.
The venue for the Setomon Festival has become more compact in recent years, but there are still so many exhibitors that even in two days it's impossible to see everything.
It's hot out there, so please take plenty of breaks and enjoy yourself.
