Hamada Compound, Exterior

One just couldn’t ask for a nicer day. In Mashiko the signs of Autumn were everywhere and the sun was bright. When we arrived at the compound we were the only visitors there. What a day!!

Hamada Noborigama

All the saggers were stacked along the sides of the open kiln shed. The main firebox of the noborigama was bricked and covered with clay. Once the kiln of a great potter and now a shrine. When I started potting six years before his death he was an icon and now to see the remains of his kiln is on one hand remarkable that I am actually here and on the other…well, I wish I had had the resources to be able to visit in the early 70’s.

Hamada Shoji house

Not a home anymore…just a house. A very quiet house.

Hamada Shoji Studio

An attendant had just started a fire (for heat I suppose) in the studio. Seemed like a medieval room. Can’t remember ever experiencing an open fire in an enclosed room. Being the only ones in this studio with a fire burning was way too weird.

Higeta Indigo Dyeing

We had arrived at Mashiko for the last day of the Fall Festival. I had wanted to purchase some indigo dyed pillowcases but alas…it was the last day of the Fall Festival. Selections were limited but hey, we were at Higeta-san’s. The woman at the retail store spoke some English and was very nice. We had a great time looking at all the wonderful items they made and seeing the steam rising from the vats on this sunny day.

Mashiko Noborigama

Don’t know whose kiln this belongs to but what can I say…it was a photo op!

Shimaoka

No one around and the driveway was gated. Compare these images with the ones taken in 1986

Utsunomiya

Never had a chance to explore Utsunomiya but it has a nice train station.