– A Journey Through the Handcrafts of Tottori –
Tottori Prefecture Traditional Crafts Half Century Exhibition
Yokoso, Yokoso:50 Years,Greeting the Next 50
There is a nostalgic yet powerful charm in the traditional crafts nurtured by the natural surroundings of Tottori.
The exhibition I visited is being held at the Tottori Prefectural Museum of Art, which just opened this March.
This year marks a significant milestone—the 40th anniversary of Tottori’s traditional craft designation system,
and the 50th anniversary of the national designation of Inshu washi and Yumihama-gasuri.
As I walked through the venue, it felt as if the background of each craft and the memories of the land quietly spoke through the works on display.
Since the Jomon and Yayoi periods, craftsmanship has been a part of life in this region.
By working with natural materials, our ancestors gradually refined tools and clothing—making them more practical, more beautiful—through wisdom and ingenuity.
That legacy lives on in the handcrafted objects we see before us today.
Unlike mass-produced items, each handmade piece carries with it time, care, and intention.
Every one of them is unique and seems to offer a quiet companionship in everyday life.
"Yokoso, Yokoso" This phrase, which is an Inaba dialect, is said to be filled with feelings of gratitude, welcome, and respect. While looking around the exhibits, I was reminded of the warmth of this phrase many times.
The weight and hope of tradition being passed down from the past to the future. It was a memorable exhibition that gave me a sense of where we are today.
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By the way, at the entrance to the museum there was a work by Morimura Yasumasa called "Morillo Box." It's called "Morillo" not "Brillo." Here's a photo to commemorate your visit.