Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store will be holding "Spring Hokuriku Week," an event featuring the culture of the Hokuriku region, from March 18th to 24th in the central hall on the first floor of the main building. The venue will introduce the cultures of Ishikawa, Toyama, and Fukui by combining "people," "things," and "events."
The highlight of the event is the "dream collaboration" between musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, Living National Treasure Kunihiko Moriguchi, and Matsui Weaving Company of Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture. The venue will also be selling the 14th volume of the music program "Schola (School of Music)" (NHK Educational TV), "Commmons: Schola. Vol. 14 Traditional Music in Japan," (11,000 yen), in which Ryuichi Sakamoto appears as a lecturer. The cover of the book features a "harvest" pattern devised by Living National Treasure Kunihiko Moriguchi, and is made from "shike silk paper," the only remaining type of paper remaining in Johana, Toyama Prefecture. "Shike silk," woven from unevenly thick silk threads, is said to be a work of art created by two silkworms, and is said to produce one-of-a-kind patterns. Also included as a special gift for this event will be a special message card handwritten by Ryuichi Sakamoto and made from "shike silk," limited to 100 copies.
In addition, a collaboration spanning the three Hokuriku prefectures has been realized. The three companies are Kaburaki Shoho, a Kutani ware maker from Ishikawa Prefecture; Nousaku, a Takaoka metalworker from Toyama Prefecture; and Sugihara Shoten, an Echizen washi paper maker from Fukui Prefecture.
Nousaku and Kaburaki Shoho are collaborating on sake vessels. Nousaku is producing a limited edition sake cup in the same shape as the Kaburaki (5,000 yen/tin, diameter 7.1 cm x height 3.8 cm, approximately 80 ml). Meanwhile, Kaburaki Shoho is also producing the Kinhanazume sake cup (14,000 yen). A temporary Hokuriku BAR will be set up at the venue, where you can enjoy the difference in taste between sake vessels made from different materials, ceramic and cast iron, and you can enjoy your favorite brand by purchasing a Hokuriku Sake Ticket (set of 3) (300 yen). In response to the recent "my choko" boom, Echizen Washi paper maker Sugihara Shoten has created a portable, original sake cup box. It will be given as a gift to the first 100 customers who purchase sake cups worth 5,000 yen or more at the bar. The venue will also host workshops (March 21st and 22nd) where visitors can experience the culture and crafts of the Hokuriku region. These include the "Suzugami Experience" (Participation Fee: 3,000 yen) by traditional craftsman Shimatani Yoshinori from Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture; "Tin Accessory Making" (Participation Fee: 2,000 yen) by instructor Odera Kota; "Mother-of-pearl Accessory Making" (Participation Fee: 3,000 yen) by traditional craftsman Orihashi Haruki; and "Papermaking Experience" (Participation Fee: 1,000 yen) by an Echizen Washi artisan from Fukui Prefecture. An event planner at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store said, "Hokuriku can be considered the 'inner sanctum' of Japan's craft culture. It is a place where a culture where 'Kyoto elegance' and 'northern harshness' coexist is deeply rooted, and you can really feel that history. This time, we have invited artisans who are promoting traditional industries in this inner sanctum, so we hope that our customers will experience the 'authentic value and space' of Hokuriku with all five senses."
