The Midwest Buddhist Temple thanks all of our guests, exhibitors, performers and our many volunteer workers for a successful Ginza Holiday 2024. We hope to see you next summer for Ginza Holiday 2025!
The information that follows is just a reminder of the attractions from this year’s festival.
Modern artisans mastering ancient crafts
The Midwest Buddhist Temple is honored by its long relationship with The Waza from Japan. The Waza is a federation of Japanese artisans dedicated to the continuation of traditional crafts handed down generation by generation dating back to Japan’s Edo period 300 years ago. Using ancient techniques today’s Waza master craftsmen create unique, handmade items that embody simple beauty through meticulous craftsmanship. Each item is carefully made through processes developed and refined over a span of centuries. And yet, every item has a timeless quality that is comforting in today’s world. Ginza visitors will have the unique opportunity to purchase affordable works that are made with the same care and precision as those that are typically available only through private shops or the most exclusive department stores in Japan.
Eiji Kinoshita
EARTHENWARE
(click image to view gallery)
Eiji Kinoshita creates unique earthenware whose every creation is a new discovery of its own. Moving from the potter’s wheel, he became attracted to the natural beauty of stones and tiles. It is their forms that he transforms into ceramic earthenware.
Masahiro Kawakami
TENUGUI (towel art)
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Masahiro Kawakami is a third-generation maker of tenugui, loosely translated as towel art. However, unlike the typical western use, it could serve as a belt or a head cover. While intended to be used as hankies, towels or wrapping, many are hung as wall art—fastened to simple scrolls or framed under glass. To learn more: https://tenugui-fujiya.jp/e/
Yuzo Mori
BAMBOO CREATIONS
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Yuzo Mori’s creations come from a versatile plant of the grass family common to East Asia. With strength rivaling the best hardwoods but with great flexibility, bamboo was a natural choice for woven containment vessels. Today, Mr. Mori’s handiwork includes purses to baskets to serving trays, which all display elegance and practicality.
Mr. Mori, who comes from the southern island of Kyushu, is making his second appearance at the Ginza Holiday Festival, following his father’s footsteps in 2012. To learn more: https://chikukousai.com/retail-shop/
Shunsuke Igarashi
KASUKABE HARIKO (papier-mâché figurines)
(click image to view gallery)
Shunsuke Igarashi creates papier-mâché figurines called Kasukabe hariko. The process starts with a clay mold, using the same skills as a woodcarver. Papier-mache is used to line the mold and when dry, the paper is carefully cut from the mold. The figure is coated with a mix of natural adhesive and ground shell called gofun. Several layers are applied before being intricately hand painted. Edo-period toys featured primary colors but today many colors are used in a wide variety of designs. To learn more: https://www.maneki-neko.com/
Stop by our BOOKSTORE/SHOPMBT Booth for a variety of offerings including Shin Buddhism literature and artifacts. We are also featuring T-Shirts and MBT 80th Anniversary commemorative items.
Get these and more by visiting our MBT BOOKSTORE/SHOPMBT BOOTH!
For those who seek treasures to take home we have many local artisans who display and sell their works in our outdoor shopping concourse – rows of booths festively decorated with cho-chin lanterns. Shoppers can typically find hand-made jewelry, beautiful examples of Origami (the art of folded paper), ceramics for both function and display, Japanese clothing, T-shirts and much more. See our full list of participating merchants below.
We thank the Old Town Triangle Association for their continued support of the Midwest Buddhist Temple and our Ginza Holiday Festival. 2024 is MBT’s 80th Anniversary and we have been a part of the Old Town community for 76 of those 80 years! Fun Fact: MBT’s first home was none other than the very building that Old Town Triangle Association occupies today (1954 photo of MBT 10th Anniversary). Thank you OTTA.