| October
1996. |
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have just returned from quite an amazing trip to Japan. I have
been greatly warmed by the Japanese people and feel that I made
some good friends . Simon Piggott's final schedule was extremely
full so I was very busy. I spent seven nights in Tokyo and the
rest of the time moving around the very beautiful Nagano area of
Japan. In Nagano I gave 3 lectures the last of which was the
Memorial Lecture at the 7th International Design Camp at
Matsumoto. |
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This was
introduced by 87 year old Sanshiro Ikeda, who had been a close
friend of my grandfather, Bernard Leach, back in the 1950's. The
title of the lecture was " A Village Potter-Views of English
Crafts, past and present"[with special reference to Bernard
Leach] . |
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My first talk was splendidly
organised by Masao Nanzaka masaonan@valley.ne.jp
in Ina-shi. A further eight days of my time in Nagano were spent
with the potter Toshio Kawate and his delightful family about 20
minutes from Iida. He had kindly agreed to hold the joint
exhibition with me in his very fine home. The exhibition was a
great success, everything sold, but more than that, each day we
spent from 10 am to 6 pm talking to Japanese people who came to
the exhibition.[some had come miles] . This daily dialogue,
interpretted through the kindness of their daughter, Natsko, was a
great sharing of our ideas and culture. With Toshio we did
discuss, as well, the possibility of a return exhibition but we
will have to wait and see.
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Toshio and
Family.1996 |
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In Tokyo, I had two more lectures
the first one at the Kuwasawa Design School [ This college's
teachings are based on the Bauhaus principles] and the final
lecture was in one of the galleries of the Folk Craft Museum of
Tokyo.I felt very honoured to be giving a lecture in so
significant a place. I have to say that I was more nervous about
this talk than the rest, but I need not have been About 50-60
attended and many interesting questions were asked afterwards.
Simon Piggott not only did a brilliant job interpretting but was
also very helpful with advice and suggestions.
On my final day I went to Mashiko
with Kaori , the daughter of the family I stayed with in Tokyo. We
met Shinsaku Hamada and his son Tomo who were both very hospitable
and entertained us to Cornish Pasties! We had a very good look at
many old Bernard Leach pots which I had previously only seen
illustrated in books and of course I admired the work of Shoji
Hamada.
I flew home both tired and
elated. |
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P.S.
Sanshiro Ikeda invited Frannie and myself to Japan for an
exhibition in October 1998. This will take place in Matsumoto,
Sanshiro's home city and the exhibition will be 150 pieces ! I am
greatly looking forward to this. Sanshiro is now 80 years old and
not in the best of health so he wants us to come soon. |
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