It Is Finished...

The heat of the day is over and the temperature is slowing dropping like the pink sun over Arita. A beautiful end to what has been a beautiful Ceramic Fair. I cannot remember tokiichi weather ever being as nice as this years was. I really don't think it could have been any better.

But it's over now. The horrific traffic outside my house is dissipating. Potters, ceramicists, sales people and vendors will all sleep long and well tonight.

"Otsukaresama" friends ...

Mark

Busy Weekend

Well, Sunday evening is drawing to a close and what a weekend it's been. On Saturday I spent most of the day at the Arita Ceramic Fair. On Saturday evening a collection of friends and weary pottery shoppers gathered in my yard for a BBQ/bonfire. This morning Dave and I were back into pottery mode, hitting some of the kilns who didn't set up a shop in the downtown area. This evening I have mostly been relaxing and wishing tomorrow didn't have to be as busy as it's going to be...

Most of the people in my area who are not working at Tokiichi seem to stay as far away from it as possible. I however still enjoy getting out battling the crowds. I think I may even be energized by it. I don't go to the to the fair to buy pottery as a rule, but it is a good chance to see the pottery that thousands of artists have been working on in a relatively short time. And it's a great oppertunity to catch up with the artists themselves. Some potters I see a few times a month, but in the past couple days, on the other hand, I have met SO MANY artists who I haven't seen since last years pottery fair (the 106th I believe).

So there are 3 days left. The weather (and therefor crowds) has been great.

I think Dave is schedualed to take some people on a tour of Okawachiyama tomorrow. I would like to pop by myself but I have a ominous feeling that I will probably be luck to have time for lunch tomorrow, let alone a leasurely stroll in Imari.

Mark

The storm has started

So Tokiichi started yesterday to great weather and what I hear was fantastic crowds. I was too busy to make it yesterday and today has been just as hectic but I will be spending the whole weekend enjoying the pottery and crowds. Can't wait! I'll be sure to put some pics up.

Mark

Rain, Rain Go Away ...

As if anyone needed another reason to hate the day!? It has rained in Arita every Monday for 2 months now. WHAT IS WITH THAT!?

Forgive more pics hastily snapped while I should have been concentrating on the road. But, for weeks now Arita has been in "Calm before the storm" mode. The streets have been almost empty. Restaurants and bars void of all but the staff.

The reason is "Tokikiichi". The Arita pottery fair. Many of Arita's potters sell the majority of pottery all in that one fun/crazy/busy/tense/sleepless week. So for months the artists have been creating and storing as much pottery as the can, cause they know come the 29th of April people will POUR in. I don't mean pour like your Mom's Ice Tea on a lazy Saturday afternoon. This is "pour" like, "What in the name of all things good and true is that?! How will we survive!?". That kind of pour. They say the population of this small town grows by 1,000,000 if you can imagine.

But the "calm" is done. The storm hasn't started so I guess this is the "brewing" phase. People are scurrying around setting up stalls and temporary shops and restaurants. Schools and non pottery related work are shutting down so EVERY possible hand, no matter how big or small can be freed up for Tokiichi.

Exciting!

Let's hope the rain stays away ...

Mark

Beautiful Day

Today was the nicest day of 2010 (so far).
Absolutely gorgeous.
Flowers blooming everywhere and happy people playing, talking, working or relaxing outside.
It was sunny and warm as I drove out between the mountains to Okawachiyama. I had to do a little work at Daigorou Gama. I shouldn't even call it "work". A short but beautiful drive to meet with friends and look at exquisite pottery is a day a prince would envy.

Mark