Although pottery pieces have been found in Mashiko that date back to the Jomon Period (14,000-600 B.C.), modern Mashiko pottery, known as mashikoyaki, begins in the early 1850s when a potter from nearby Kasama named Keizaburo Otsuka noted the quality of the clay and decided to set up a kiln.

There are two different types of pottery available for purchase in Mashiko. All around the center of town you will find shops selling tableware like plates, bowls and cups. There are also more specialized stores that offer artistic pieces, often, one of a kind.

Traditionally in Japan, craftspeople were born into their professions, but Mashiko has long had a reputation as an open and educational community where experts and complete novices alike are welcome.

In Mashiko, anyone could be a potter.

 
View Mashiko Town in a larger map

The project started  in the radio program of  CRT Tochigi Broadcasting Corporation in this May with the concept of “aiming to be a major idol group from Tochigi”.  And  the first stage of the  first generation’s audition’s opening was May 20th-June 30th, and  at the final stage by July 27th, three members  out of  eleven candidates have been successfully chosen to the first generation members.   

The three first generation members of T!P

   Tohicgi is home to a lot of  popular tourist destinations, such as Nikko, Kinugawa, Ashikaga, and others, however, due to the radiation problem in Fukushima, the prefecture has suffered from a sharp decrease in number of tourists after the disaster in this March, though the number is rising again these days.  The group will make much of  close relationships with the locals and local culture of the area, yet aiming to become a popular group nationwide, according to its producer.      Tochigi  already has an girls idol group named “Tochiotome 25″, which debuted at  the Shanghai Expo in China in 2010, whose primary concept is “promoting popular strawberry Tochiotome from Tochigi and other Tochigi’s agricultural produces and local culture to the domestic market as well as to China and other international markets “ . http://tochiotome25.com/sub4.html

"Tochiotome 25 "debuted at the Shanghai Expo in 2010

I do hope these cheeful and energetic young girls will be a reliable trigger and energy source for Tochigi and whole of Japan to regain power and vigor so soon.

AFPBB News
A total of some 200,000 sunflowers welcomed guests for the summer festival, an annual draw for the small town.

Maze of sunflowers entrance fee is 200yen


View Nogi in a larger map

宇都宮パルコ

parco utsunomiya

3-1-1, Babadori, Utsunomiya-shi, Tochigi 320-8566

028-611-2111

http://www.parco-utsunomiya.com/web/

Since1997

PARCO Co.,Ltd.

Shop List:Parco Utsunomiya

• 179/WG ( NICOLE CO.,LTD. )
• ABAHOUSE ( ABAHOUSE INTERNATIONAL CO. )
• ABC-MART ( ABC-MART, Inc. )
• aimerfeel by sockkobe ( Sockkobe Co.,Ltd. )
• Arnie Arnold Palmer ( RENOWN INCORPORATED )
• Aujourd’hui ( OGGI JAPAN INC. )
• BOYCOTT ( WORLD CO., LTD. )
• CECIL McBEE ( Japan imagination Co.,Ltd. )
• COCUE ( WORLD CO., LTD. )
• COLLECTORS ( NEUVE A CO.,LTD. )
• DAICHU ( Marche CO.,LTD. )
• DGRACE ( BIGI Group )
• EGOIST ( EGOIST CO.,LTD. )
• Ehyphenworld gallery ( CROSS COMPANY CO.,LTD. )
• EMS EXCITE ( M’s CO.,LTD. )
• ESPERANZA ( KOBE LEATHER CLOTH CO., LTD )
• Francfrancfranc ( BALS Corporation. )
• GRAN SAC’S ( Tokyo Derica Co., Ltd. )
• JAYRO ( JUN Group )
• JEANASiS ( POINT INC. )
• KINOKUNIYA SHOTEN ( KINOKUNIYA COMPANY LTD. )
• L.CHANCE ( art & craft co.,ltd. )
• LOWRYS FARM ( POINT INC. )
• MEN’S BIGI ( BIGI Group )
• MINAMI ( Minami Corporation )
• MK MICHEL KLEIN ( Itokin Co., Ltd. )
• moussy ( BAROQUE JAPAN LIMITED. )
• MUJI ( Ryohin Keikaku Co.,Ltd. )
• NADESHIKO ( YAMATO CO.,LTD. )
• NICOLE CLUB FOR MEN ( NICOLE CO.,LTD. )
• OLIVE des OLIVE ( MOKU MOKU CO.,LTD. )
• PAGEBOY ( Alicia Co., Ltd. )
• Pinky Girls ( FREE’S INTERNATIONAL ltd. )
• POOΣ ( SUZUTAN CO., LTD. )
• PPFM ( FIVE FOXes Co.,ltd. )
• Prideglide ( ONWARD KASHIYAMA Co., Ltd. )
• REAC ( reac JAPAN )
• RETROGIRL ( M’s CO.,LTD. )
• rienda ( BAROQUE JAPAN LIMITED. )
• RODEO CROWNS ( BAROQUE JAPAN LIMITED. )
• RUPERT ( BIGI Group )
• Samantha Vega ( Samantha Thavasa Japan Limited )
• SHIMAMURA GAKKI ( Shimamura Music Co.,Ltd. )
• SLY ( BAROQUE JAPAN LIMITED. )
• TAKEO KIKUCHI ( WORLD CO., LTD. )
• THE BODY SHOP ( The Body Shop Japan. )
• THE EMPORIUM ( WORLD CO., LTD. )
• TK TAKEO KIKUCHI ( WORLD CO., LTD. )
• TORNADO MART ( SPIC INTERNATIONAL co.,ltd. )
• TOWER RECORDS ( Tower Records Japan Inc. )
• tutuanna ( Tutuanna,Ltd. )
• VENCE ( BLUE GRASS Co.,Ltd. )
• VILLAGE VANGUARD ( VILLAGE VANGUARD CORP. )
• Vivienne Westwood RED LABEL ( ORIZZONTI CO.,LTD. )
• WORLD WIDE LOVE! ( WOLRD WIDE LOVE CO.,LTD. )

MAP:Parco Utsunomiya
View Parco Utsunomiya in a larger map