Of the many techniques of lacquer crafts, Katsuji Kamata utilizes dry lacquer technique where bases of layered lacquer applied linen is used, to create light and soft impression of the bowl. Syuzo Shingu uses the hollowed technique with wood chisels to create his bowls, where both craftsmen gives dedicated attention from materials to the final end products. You will be able to enjoy the display of their latest works.

VENUE : March 15^th (Sat) – April 14^th (Mon), 2014 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S.

Sasayama Gallery KITA’S Seminar No.10

“Talk Session: Katsuji Kamata x Syuzo Shingu x Toshiyuki Kita”

VENUE : March 15^th (Sat), 2012  14:00 – 15:00 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S 2F

As our food culture and cuisines changes over the years, so does the lacquer ware’s distinctive appeal. The trend for lacquer ware is becoming, not only for the special occasions, but many are buying them also for everyday use. You will enjoy the talks from both craftsmen on the future of lacquer art.

While keeping the craftsmanship of traditional arts for over several hundreds of years in Edo Tokyo,
Koutou-ku Traditional Crafts Association now creates modernized tools for the modern lifestyle.
In this “Coffee Box” themed event, coffee drippers and canisters, spoons and coffee cups made from tortoiseshells, and many selected goods including container made from cask material, etc wil be displayed.

VENUE : October 25th (Fri) – November 21st (Thu), 2013 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S.

Sasayama Gallery KITA’S Seminar No.9

“Talk Session: Koutou-ku Traditional Crafts Association (Eifu Kawamata, Tsuyoshi Isogai, Keiichi Nakamura, Koto Tomita) x Toshiyuki Kita”

VENUE : November 2^nd (Sat), 2013 14:00 – 15:00 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S 2F

With the theme of “hand-made products that match today’s lifestyle”, Kita will talk with artists from Koutou-ku Traditional Crafts Association members whose endless strive to blend art, materials for crafts and techniques and search for new frontiers, on topics about daily tools for everyday life and their activities.

As we feel the warmth of cozy spring, we bring you the latest releases of from HANA series plates and bowls that will match the current season of spring. You can enjoy the local traditional Sasayama confectionaries at our tea room as well.

VENUE : April 12^th (Fri) – May 21^st (Tues), 2013 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S.

Mino’s handmade WASHI paper dates back to 1300 years of history and is the oldest paper in Japan. In this exhibition “WACCO + SIBSI36”, the bag series exhibited was created from collaborations between SIBSI36, the manufacturer of persimmon dyed handmade WASHI and designer WACCO.

VENUE : November 27^th(Tue) – December 25^th (Tues) of 2012 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S

“TALK SALONE EVENT at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S ”

VENUE : December 1st (Sat), 2012, 14:00pm – at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S. 1F
SPEAKERS : WACCO x Hiroko Shinohara (President of SIBSI36) x Toshiyuki Kita
CONCERT : Hideki Okumura – Solo Violist (Graduated from Accademia Teatro alla Scala “Top of the Class”, Violist at Giuseppe Verdi Symphony Orchestra, currently active based in Japan.)

Mino Washi is made around the clear river banks of Nagara River of Mino area using traditional washi materials and special techniques to create the natural fiber fabrics. With the fusion of traditional craftsmanship and modern design and images, “WACCO+SIBSI36” bags are of light-weight and strong, which was the center of the talk event as the speakers held and presented these bags on stage.
In addition, after the talk event, a mini concert performed by the violist, Hideki Okumura was held. As the season progresses from Autumn to Winter, the audience enjoyed an afternoon of lively heart felt music and a joyful moment of friendly exchange.

Ennen Kiln, Tadasaku Kiln, Toshihiko Kiln, Shinrin Kiln, Rinzou Kiln, Shouyou Kiln, Yamagotoukatsu Kiln
TAMBA series was born 2 years ago when Kita met with these young potters that inherit the traditional styles and techniques of Tamba Pottery. With its simple design of plates and cups, they are a joy to dish up, which is the reason for the continued creation of new releases to this day.

VENUE : October 20th (Sat) – November 18th (Sun), 2012 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S.

Sasayama Gallery KITA’S Seminar No.8 “Talk Session: Tamba Kiln Potters x Toshiyuki Kita”

VENUE : November 10^th (Sat), 2012 14:00 – 15:00 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S 2F

At the heart of Tamba where original Japanese landscapes is still preserved widely, traditional kilns still burns after 800 years of history, creating everyday tableware such as plates and bowls, tea cups, sake pitchers, flower vases, etc. Young potters and Kita talked about design, what is important in modern tableware and the future of Tamba Pottery and many more.

Tomoe Adachi, Isao Ueno, Misako Onishi, Kenta Ohigashi, Tomoki Oki, Ryo Sekino, Yuko Sekino, Kenji Tamura, Sawako Fujiwara, Hiroshi Yamano (in syllabary order).
Hiroshi Yamano who has studied glass works in the United States, from 1991 in the cultural city of Seatle has held many exhibitions every year. As professor of the Osaka University of Arts where he teaches to young students and contributed to graduating many excellent artists. In this exhibition, he and his past colleagues and graduates will present new glass works.

VENUE : September 8th (Sat) – October 8th (Mon), 2012 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S.

Sasayama Gallery KITA’S Seminar No.7

“Talk Session: Hiroshi Yamano x Toshiyuki Kita”

VENUE : September 29^th (Sat), 2012 14:00 – 15:00 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S 2F

Hiroshi Yamano’s creative origin lies in his sensation of surrounded by pure nature every time he walks through the forest, he says. At his glass studio in Arawa City of Fukuoka Prefecture where it is surrounded by rich nature, he will talk about blow glass productions and his new techniques.

As the cold winter passes and to feel the warmth of the spring arriving, it is always nice to enjoy your cup of tea with the tea bowl and teaware you love.
At Sasayama Gallery KITA’S, we’ve selected tea bowls and teaware especially for tea ceremony.
You can enjoy our tea in your favorite tea bowl displayed at the gallery, along with cakes and sweets of west and east.

VENUE : April 12th (Thu) – May 13th (Sun), 2012 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S.

As the cold winter season approaches, so will the dining scene with everyone surrounding and enjoying a single pot “Nabe” cuisine. Today, so many variations of “Nabe” cuisines are becoming popular, the center piece of the Earthenware pot is gathering attention widely.

In 2009, I was asked to design an IH-compatible Earthenware pot using carbon material as the heat generating source. 4 types of pots were made, one for “Nabe” cuisine, another for rice cooking, a stew pot and one that could be also used for steaming vegetables,  meat and fishes, etc. By using an innovative material as IH stove compatibility for Earthenware pots, regular gas oven tops and electrical oven tops are now usable either way. During this event at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S, table coordinator Kumiko Matsushita set the table table decorations with “Nabe” cuisine settings.

VENUE : November 12^th (Sat) – December 27^th (Tues), 2011 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S.

Sasayama Gallery KITA’S Seminar No.6

“Talk Session: Makoto Ishida x Toshiyuki Kita

VENUE : November 26^th (Sat)  14:00 – 15:00 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S.

Mr.Kita first met with the manufacturer of the Earthenware “COOKPOT” series, Mr. Ishida, at the Higashiosaka City Design Seminar, a design workshop for small and medium-sized businesses where Mr.Kita was invited to become the design advisor for the West Osaka City. When the design request came for a new “Nabe” pot series, Mr.Kita felt his strong motivation as a manufacturer. Audience enjoyed the designing developments and its product story of this pot.

Casks – Eifu Kawamata / Tortoiseshell – Isogai Tsuyoshi / Framer – Iwasaki Akira / Edo Glass Kiriko – Okubo Tadayuki / Edo Braid- Haneda Shinji / Tinsmith – Nakamura Keiichi / Fountain Pen – Kawakubo Katsumi / Metalcraft Creator – Koto Miyata / Nihonga Artist – Ikegami Hiroko

There is always a feel of “strength” in hand-made items that cannot be felt from machine-made products. New sensations, which can only originate from those hands that inherit traditional craftsmanship and wisdom and from the use of fine materials. Daily-use goods which brings richness into our lifestyle, teaware that decorates the tea ceremony for that special occasion.

VENUE : September 2nd (Fri) – October 10th (Mon), 2011 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S.

Sasayama Gallery KITA’S Seminar No.5
“Talk Session: 9 members of Koutou-ku Traditional Crafts Association x Toshiyuki Kita”
VENUE : October 1st (Sat), 2011 14:00 – 15:00 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S 2F

In Tokyo from far back as Edo-era, there are craftsmen who made everyday tools necessary for our daily life. Along the dedicated path of its traditional history, members of Koutou-ku Traditional Crafts Association is striving to widen the possibility of traditional material and craftsmanship into hand-made tools which can blend in and become necessary for our modern lifestyle. They will talk about their spirits and latest activities in this endeavor.

Glass Artist Takeshi Tsujino, along with six studio artists from his “fresco” glass works studio established in 2005, will be presenting works of “handmade art” and “original identity” in this modern lifestyle as their brand theme. Through their glassware made from collaborations between creators’ “expression” and the users’ “expression”, the importance of human, nature and handicraft was displayed.

VENUE: July 22^nd (Fri) – August 23^rd (Tues), 2011 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S.

Sasayama Gallery KITA’S Seminar No.4

“Talk Session: Takeshi Tsujino x Toshiyuki Kita”

VENUE : August 6^th (Sat), 2011  14:00 – 15:00 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S 2F

Blown glass technique is a method of creating glassware by wrapping hot 1200 degrees Celsius molten glass on to a wind pipe and then blowing into the glass to shape. Unlike from the cool looks of glassware itself, they will discuss the hot studio experiences, and with the 10^th anniversary of their studio coming up, future of glassware production and their new challenges will also be presented.

During the Edo-period, Odawara Hakone’s wooden mosaic parquetry called “Yosegi-zaiku” has always fascinated the travelers passing across the steep mountainous path of Hakone. The 6 members of Zoukibayashi: Kiyotaka Tsuyuki, Yuta Shimizu, Yuuki Ishikawa, Ken Ohta, Yuhei Kojima and Eiji Shinoda, who has inherited the generations of traditional artistry and craftsmanship, will be displaying their latest Yosegi-zaiku products.

VENUE : April 9th (Sat) – May 10th (Tue), 2011 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S.

Sasayama Gallery KITA’S Seminar No.3

“Talk Session: Zoukibayashi craftsmen x Toshiyuki Kita”

VENUE : April 23^rd (Sat), 2011 14:00 – 15:00 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S 2F

An 1,200 years old tradition of Odawara’s wooden mosaic parquetry called “Yosegi-zaiku”, they are made with natural color variations of Hakone’s local forest wood materials. You will enjoy the talks from craftsmen on current lifestyle trends to their innovative endeavors for near future.

By utilizing Wajima-Noto’s 1,000 years old dry lacquer techniques, Kamata Katsuji’s endeavor of pursuing the creativity of this art, his lacquer ware is very popular these days, and it is said that he has seems to attain a style of his own lacquer technique at last. His tableware made to “being-used” for any occasions of our modern lifestyle, he will present newly created varieties of nested boxes and spoons.

VENUE : November 13th (Sat) – December 5th (Sun), 2010 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S.

Sasayama Gallery KITA’S Seminar No.2

“Talk Session: Katsuji Kamata x Toshiyuki Kita”

VENUE : November 27^th (Sat), 2010  14:00 – 15:00 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S 2F

Gluing multifold of linens on molds made from wood or glass, base is first created by painting multifold of lacquer over the linens…; from these tedious process of dry lacquer technique, the artist will discuss what he feels important with Toshiyuki Kita whom also has collaborated with traditional lacquer craftsmen lifelong.

As one of the oldest pottery of Japan, Tamba Pottery has 800 years of history.
With the collaboration of potters who inherits those mainstream tradition, gave rise to the TAMBA series of tableware. Along with tableware that was displayed at March of this year 2010 at the gallery’s opening ceremony, new items will also be presented.

VENUE : October 9th (Sat) – October 31st (Sun), 2010 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S.

Sasayama Gallery KITA’S Seminar No.1

“Talk Session: TAMBA Pottery Craftsmen x Toshiyuki Kita”

VENUE : October 31^st (Sun), 2010  14:00 – 15:00 at Sasayama Gallery KITA’S 2F

The main items of Tamba pottery has always been tableware for everyday life.

Glaze with natural taste and the firm texture of the earth pottery makes the user feel rich in lifestyle.

With its long history of traditional craftsmanship, they will discuss the challenges and attempts of infusing the techniques into modern pottery making.

Shinichi Nagami ponders as he gathers the wood splinters and chips in the studio, “Sometimes I think I can hear all the wood chips talking to me. Perhaps because of the long years I have spent with them, they cheerfully and casually talk to me, and it is out of that fun and enjoyable conversation with woods that I’m able to create these works”, he says. These emotions and faces of wood works are the product of their communications with woods. We hope you will enjoy their voices from his works as well at the exhibition.

VENUE : March 18th (Thu) – April 2nd (Fri), 2010 at Gallery anima.

Handicraft Seminar No.28 “Talking about Woods”

“Talk Session: Shinichi Nagami x Toshiyuki Kita”

VENUE : Marchj 18^th (Thu), 2010 18:00 – 19:00 at Gallery anima

Shinichi Nagami will talk with Toshiyuki Kita about handicrafts at the Sakuraseisakusho Studio, memorable episodes with George Nakashima and the spirit of craftsmanship.