Okinawan summer at wagumi
The Okinawa islands are a land of culture and craft, more than 600km south of Japan’s larger archipelago. This summer we have been featuring some of the many great things made there, including ceramics, glass, textiles and music. Where to go to find the true Japan? For some intellectuals in the early 20th century, the answer was to its extremities. Here, in places, such as Okinawa the spirt of craft and creation had survived the effects of industrialisation found elsewhere. Today too, the islands offer a different vision to other places in Japan, of a way of life, and...
Kasama Freestyle: now at wagumi
Kasama Freestyle at wagumi At present at wagumi we have a collection of ceramics from Kasama. Under the title Kasama Freestyle, it is meant as an introduction to the great work in pottery you can find in this town around sixty miles north of Tokyo. Japan is full of pottery regions. Each have their own characteristics, self-imposed restraints, and an idea of what you might find. What is interesting about Kasama, is that it has none of these things. Or rather that its characteristic is its sense of freedom. The background to this is in Kasama’s history, and its...
An unusual migration: The Wild Bird Society of Japan now at wagumi
Earlier this year a Pacific Swift made an unexpected appearance in Aberdeenshire. A classic form in the Japanese summer sky, on spring migration it had somehow set out in the wrong direction and was found circling over Scotland. This was auspicious perhaps to the unusual migration we have also arranged from Japan, for late summer at wagumi. In their home country the Wild Bird Society of Japan are known both for their work in conservation, and more recently for their engaging range of design products. These present a timely combination of practical style, and concern for the natural environment. Scan...
wagumi at London Craft Week
wagumi at London Craft Week: A Demonstration of Kintsugi At this year’s London Craft Week (3-7 May 2017), wagumi is going to participate in two ways. Firstly we are taking part in the 'Our House' campaign at Selfridges and have an area of our product selections there. This includes some wagumi classics such as Koishiwara Pottery, and Kaneko Kohyo ‘varietal’ sake cups, and some new items such as exclusive colours of Housengama’s Toki teapot design. It is exciting to see our selections in this classic home of UK retail, and the event will run to mid-June. Secondly we will be...
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