Kyoto University Cap Throwing Club – cap throwing
Do you know the cap throwing game? It’s an easy game that anyone can enjoy anytime without paying.
The Kyoto University cap throwing club gathers to throw caps of plastic bottles every day with the aim to make this a new sporting discipline. They would like to spread this fun not only in Japan but all over the world. During the Japan Week they would like to convey the charm of the cap throwing game to local people in Torino, and have international cultural exchanges through it.
Fukui Omusubi Dokokai – onigiri rice balls tasting
The team comes from the Fukui Prefecture, located in the Japan Sea. In Fukui they can get plenty fresh food from the sea and from the mountains. In particular their rice is famous for its taste. One of the most popular rice in Japan, called koshihikari, is made in Fukui and a new brand called ichihomare has been developed there. During the Japan Week visitors will have the possibility to taste omusubi, a combination of Japanese traditional rice and umeboshi – pickled plum – as well as seaweed and other specialties.
Sayaka Kato Ikebana private school – ikebana
Sayaka Kato established the Shokasanmei school in the Saitama Prefecture located in the northern part of Tokyo in 2018. The school combines the art of ikebana with the theory of yin Yangy, developing the whole process to make elegant flower arrangements. Thanks to her flower arrangements, Sayaka shows her personality and sense of gratitude towards people.
Iwamoto Wasai – kimono making
These artists have been working for many years on the development of traditional Japanese costumes and on the training of specialized kimono tailors. Now they create new kimonos made from western clothes fabrics as well as unisex models. During the Japan Week they will showcase these kimonos in Torino. In their workshop they will present their new creations and will show the audience how to make their own knots. They hope to create a bridge between the Japanese and Italian culture.
Assoboo – accessories
The team, composed of different artists, makes clothes and accessories under the name of Assoboo. During the Japan Week they will exhibit their products including corsage with Bonsai motifs and traditional Japanese clothing such as tabi socks, brooches as well as cranes and other paperwork.
The Tou Ho Group – rattan craft
The group makes rattan craft and its works are shown in exhibitions once every two years. They hold workshops on request, and they recently worked with the Oriental Department of the University of Rome. During that workshop they folded 50 paper cranes using the origami technique. The students were all very satisfied and they will surely keep a happy memory of the activity carried out.
Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword – sword hilt carving
These craftsmen come from Setouchi city, located in the western part of Japan and also known as the ” sunny country” because of its mild climate and little rainfalls. Once named Bizen no Kuni Osafune, the city grew as one of the biggest production areas of Japanese swords. Almost half of the swords currently designated as National Treasures are made in Bizen. The artists will introduce the art of tosho, the craftsmen of swords, and the techniques used to make “not broken, not bent and beautiful” Japanese swords.
Tomoko Iwahashi Pressed Flower Class – pressed flowers
This group gives pressed flower classes and makes little boards with pressed flowers. Each season in Japan offers the possibility to pick up flowers in gardens or buy them in flower shops. Beautiful landscapes can be made using pressed flowers creating a world of just 1-2 mm thickness but expressing a three-dimensional side. With time natural colours tend to fade but their charm can be enjoyed for a long time.
Kiyoko Shop – Japanese style accessories
For more than 30 years these artists have handmade beautiful items from wonderful Japanese textiles and fabrics, showcasing their works in department stores and galleries. They have always tried to produce works of ingenious design. In Torino they will show to the audience the beauty of Japanese fabrics through dolls, accessories, hats and backpacks all produced in the respect of the Kimono culture.
The Japan Diversity Art Society – art for visually impaired
Maris is the first form of painting, invented by the artist Riku Takahashi, that blind people can enjoy. The group exhibits worldwide and in 2016 it participated in the Rio de Janeiro blind school exhibition during the Paralympic Games. Unlike traditional sand paintings, the maris artworks can be touched and felt. The artists now work on the creation of national flags where each grain of sand will carry a message of peace and love.
Atelier Y Igureku Pottery Class – pottery
After studying ceramics for 5 years, two housewives founded the Atelier Y Igureku pottery art school. They provide a place and tools for those who share the same hobby. Together with their students they hold exhibitions, visit kilns and organize pottery experiences at elementary and junior high schools in Kyoto. They want to tell everybody the secrets of pottery.
Tokushima Prefectural Anan Technical/Ananhikari High School – bamboo craft
These artists come from Anan, a city located in the Shikoku Island, famous for its production of bamboo shoots, top leader in this field for more than 20 consecutive years. Due to the fact that a great number of bamboo forests have been abandoned, now the devastation of the mountain has become a major problem. This is the reason why the school is now working with a not-for profit organisation in Anan, trying to develop new ways of using bamboo. They aim to promote a new bamboo culture in Anan by making new products and spreading their work all over the world.
Japan Awasake Association – sake tasting
The Japan Awasake Association gathers several sake producers that want to promote a high-quality sparkling sake, known as awasake, distinguished by its fine bubbles rising in a straight line. The Association aims awasake to become an alternative toast drink choice at international level. In order to become awasake, the drink must meet strict certification criteria. The Association was awarded the first prize for two consecutive years in the world’s largest sake contest, the “Sake Competition”.
Precious Togei Club – pottery
These artists come from the Chiba Prefecture, next to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and enjoy making ceramic ware including flower vases and tea ware. The designing process to produce items from soft clay is pretty long, but the pleasure it provides is worthwhile. They exhibit overseas for the first time, and they hope visitors will enjoy their works.
Akasaka Nadeshiko Kai – Japanese dolls
This group of artists makes kimekomi dolls, using a technique developed 250 years ago in the Kyoto Kamigamo shrine, World Cultural Heritage. This tradition begun when a shrine priest started to use the waste fabric of silk kimonos to dress dolls made of paulownia wood. They wish to convey this traditional craft technique to everybody.
Kobayashi Co., Ltd – bead accessories
The Kobayashi company has been selling textile goods for more than 70 years and it is based in Nagoya. Fifteen years ago it developed a special thread to be used with beads, successfully exported to the USA, the UK, and France. They would like visitors to experience the use of their threads to make beautiful bead accessories.
Orimama Beads Party – bead accessories
The group teaches bead weaving using a small traditional loom. The warp threads are common threads, while the weft threads have beads. During the Japan Week the will exhibit three-dimensional traditional objects such as dolls, decorated boards and armours made using bead weaving. These works were selected as finalists in the US “Beads & Button Show” and they will be shown in Torino.
Ikei II – painting
The artist, born in Taiwan, studied with Mr. Masuo Ikeda, the famous painter who discovered her talent. Her work mainly focuses on horse themes, and she has produced works for the Taiwan government as well as for royal families worldwide. The Prado Museum awarded her the Gold Medal and the Global Environmental Art Tokugawa Achievement Award. Her works surely mark a special place in the world of art and her rare talent is highly appreciated.
Prefectural University of Kumamoto International Club – calligraphy and origami
The group members are students from the Kumamoto Prefectural University. They are involved in various activities to promote international exchanges, and every year they take part in the Japan Week. This time they will perform calligraphy and origami workshops to introduce Japanese culture. Their workshops are available to everybody, even to beginners.