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The Mashiko Reference Collection Museum was established by
Mr. Shoji Hamada, wishing to share the crafts he had collected
and referred, with general people so that the collection would be
good ‘reference’ for them. |
Founded in 1974
Opened in 1977 |
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| Shoji’s World---his eyes and hands |
Mashiko Pottery is the origin of folk pottery.
Mashiko has known to the world since Shoji settled in this place.
Using Mashiko’s clay and glaze, he had made lots of pottery to express his ideal,
soul of ‘mingei’or folk crafts.
At the same time, Shoji collected lots of folk crafts from all over the world,
old and new alike and got inspiration from them and made use for his production.
At the museum, the collection is displayed together with the works of himself, and of his close friends, Barnard Leach and Kanjiro Kawai.
The large farmhouse with a thatched roof where he lived, the studio where he worked, the climbing kiln------they are open to the public and you can see and feel the spirit of the Folk Crafts Movement.
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| A Large Platter by Shoji Hamada (Cultural Asset of Mashiko Town) |
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| ■Profile of Mr. Shoji Hamada |
| 1894 |
He was born in Shiba, Tokyo, as the first son at a stationary shop.
After graduating from Furitu Icchu School, he went on to Tokyo Industrial High School(Tokyo Koto Kogyo Gakko) and learned from Hazan Itaya, made a lifelong friendship with Kanjiro Kawai. |
| 1916 |
He entered Kyoto Pottery-testing Center and learned about pottery. |
| 1920 |
Accepting Barnard Leach’s offer, he went to England. He and Leach made a climbing kiln at St. Ives, Cornwall and started making pottery there. |
| 1924 |
He returned to Japan and settled in Mashiko, adopting a serious stance on making pottery.
He got involved in the Mingei Folk Crafts Movement with Soetsu Yanagi and Kanjiro Kawai. |
| 1930 |
A large farmhouse was moved to his place, which he used as his main house.
From that time on until 1942, he kept buying old houses and had them moved to his place.
The Hamada residence consisted of those buildings. |
| 1955 |
He was designated the first Important Intangible Cultural Heritage (Living National Treasure). |
| 1968 |
The Order of Culture was given to him. |
| 1978 |
He died at the age of 83 years old. |
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Information |
| ■Hours Open |
| 9:30 am ～5:00 pm ( entry by 4:30 pm) |
| ■holiday |
Monday(except holidays)
28 of December～4 of January
Ｅａｒｌy February(closed for one to two weeks due to change of exhibition)
Please be aware of temporary closing.
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| ■Admission Fee |
Adults(individuals) \800 Adults(group for over 20 people) \700
Junior high school students(individuals) \400
Junior high school students(group for over 20 people) \300
Children of elementary school and under are FREE. |
Link to the Mashiko Reference Collection Museum>> |
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The Mashiko Reference Collection Museum
3388 Mashiko, Mashiko town,
Haga-gun, Tochigi-ken, 321-3388
TEL0285-72-5300
FAX0285-72-7533 |
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