The Beauty of the Cities of the Inland Sea: Bizen and Setouchi Pottery and Food Festival

This is a free event. RSVP for free admission to this discussion and reception.

This special event is co-presented by Japan Society and the Governments of Bizen and Setouchi Cities.

Japan Society invites you to spend an evening exploring Bizen and Setouchi, two cities on the shores of the Seto Inland Sea. Known for their beautiful and historic pottery traditions and gourmet seafood cuisine, both cities are hidden gems along the Okayama Prefecture seashore. We now bring these gems to New York with a special event filled with stories from across Bizen and Setouchi and tastings of local delicacies. Explore the beauty of the Seto Inland Sea with us!

On-Stage Discussion:
Featuring Bizen pottery artists Tadashi Hirakawa and Yukiko Akai. Tadashi Hirakawa and Yukiko Akai are currently researching the reconstruction of a 700-year-old earthen kiln. At the request of Texas Christian University, they previously built a kiln on-site as a project with the university. They will speak about Bizen’s unique pottery tradition.

Moderated By:
Melodee Morita is a bilingual TV host, reporter, MC and content creator with over 600,000 followers. Her work includes interviewing top athletes from the NBA, MLB and NFL, as well as serving as the bilingual MC for government events with the Prime Minister of Japan. In addition, she creates YouTube videos that explore Japanese culture, beauty, health and celebrity interviews, accumulating over 30 million views. Off-camera, she collaborates with global brands as a media director, further expanding her multifaceted career.

Reception:
Enjoy a selection of delicious Bizen and Setouchi City tastes including…

• Oyster Rice Bowl – A regional prize winner hailing from Bizen City, enjoy an oyster dish to beat away any winter blues.
• Wagashi – A curated selection as provided by Minamoto Kitchoan, a storied confectioner hailing from Okayama City.
• Okayama Sake – A variety of delicious local sake from across the region.

Pottery Display:
View traditional pottery including…

• Bizen-Yaki – Bizen is one of Japan’s most famed pottery regions, and its signature pottery style dates back 800 years. Made with a unique method that does not use glaze, Bizen poetry has a simple, rustic appearance and is made with local hiyose clay.
• Mushiage-Yaki – Mushiage pottery has a history of over 300 years. It began as domestic pottery created by the Igi family, who ruled over Okayama in feudal times, and it features a transparent glaze made from local pine ash that creates gentle, warm colors.

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This special event is co-presented by Japan Society and the Governments of Bizen and Setouchi Cities.

Japan Society programs are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional support for cultural programs is provided by an anonymous donor and the Sandy Heck Lecture Fund.