Behind the handicrafts created in Miyagi and Iwate prefectures lie stories about life in northeastern Japan. Now, their story is one of survival, not only for the economies of the two prefectures devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, but also for the future of the industry.
Behind the handicrafts created in Miyagi and Iwate prefectures lie stories about life in northeastern Japan. Now, their story is one of survival, not only for the economies of the two prefectures devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, but also for the future of the industry.
Nanbu casting works, lacquerware and other objects rooted in the prefectures' cultures will be among about 50 items from the areas exhibited at the Mapic trade show in Cannes, France, from Nov. 16 to Nov. 18.
About 8,000 traders from around the world are expected to attend.
The campaign, organized by municipalities in both prefectures, local companies and the Master's Program in Sustainable Urban Regeneration at the University of Tokyo, is intended to appeal the allure of the handicrafts to overseas consumers.
It also aims to expand sales areas abroad so that traditional art and cultures will be well maintained and passed down to future generations.
In the booth at the exhibition, videos will be played and photographs displayed showing the way people use the handicrafts in their everyday lives.
"Craftworks have created the way people live in the prefectures," said Tetsujiro Yamagami, a film producer who is managing the arrangement of exhibited items. "We want visitors to listen to the stories the craftworks try to convey."
Among the items is the Tsutsugaki-tezome dyed textile from Miyagi Prefecture's Ishinomaki, an area hard hit by the March 11 tsunami.
The textile is typically used in the Tairyo-bata flag, which is traditionally hoisted on fishing boats when they return to port with large catches.
The textile will be introduced to visitors in a way that helps them understand how artisans weave the fabric while praying for fishermen's safety and success on the seas.