Old Noritake Exhibition

The “Old Noritake Exhibition” featuring Meiji-era export porcelain is being held at the gallery space “CRAFT.” in BankPark YOKOHAMA (6 Honcho, Naka-ku, Yokohama). This event is part of the BankPark YOKOHAMA grand opening commemorative projects.

Old Noritake refers to porcelain tableware created during the Meiji period, designed to achieve pure white, durable Western-style tableware that didn’t previously exist in Japan. It features intricate hand-painted decorations created using advanced artisan techniques. These pieces were exported overseas via Yokohama Port.

The exhibition displays tea sets, vases, and small items that showcase the transition from Victorian style to Art Nouveau and Art Deco. The display demonstrates differences in patterns, shaping, and painting techniques through actual pieces. All items are over 100 years old and represent highly valued crafts that were prized in Europe and America, making this a homecoming exhibition to Yokohama.

During the exhibition period, talk events will be held. The researcher is a world-renowned collector representing Japan. They served as the first Japanese president for two consecutive years in the international Old Noritake club “INCC,” based in New York, and owns over 2,000 pieces. Their collection, which covers diverse designs and techniques, is internationally famous and helps promote Old Noritake’s appeal worldwide.

The researcher commented, “The first introduction in Yokohama was in 2004 as part of Yokohama Port’s 150th anniversary events at Sankeien Garden. Yokohama has historically functioned as a shipping hub for porcelain, glass products, and silk textiles since the port opened. This exhibition attempts to overlay regional history with the journey of export porcelain, showing the evolution of production techniques and patterns through actual items.”

The exhibition runs until October 19th. Talks will be held on the 13th, 18th, and 19th at 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM each day. Free admission (no reservation required).

CRAFT. is a complex space featuring a gallery-library that collects craftworks from around the world, a flower shop “CRAFT. Flora Ludique by Hanahiro,” and a dining restaurant “CRAFT. Table” offering food and drinks focused on ingredients and cooking methods. Business hours are 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

The event “Kami JAZZ” featuring jazz performances will be held on October 19th at “Ominomiya Hie Shrine” (5 Sannocho, Minami-ku, Yokohama).

Four groups will perform on the Kagura-den stage: Wajamin (12:10 PM, koto, piano, and bass), Riko Ichikawa & Yoko Suzuki (1:10 PM, vocals and piano), Kenji Ise & Yu Kimura (2:10 PM, saxophone and piano), and Mika Hino with Yoshimi Hirota (3:10 PM, vocals and piano). Each will perform approximately 40-minute live sets. Yoshino Hayashi will appear during the opening from 11:00 AM.

The nearby Toyota Mobility Kanagawa Minami Store (5 Yoshinocho) will serve as a second stage, featuring performances by local groups and organizations, along with hydrogen fuel cell vehicle displays and power demonstrations. During the opening from 11:00 AM, Asa Ki (hand organ) and Akari DUO (vocals and guitar) will perform.

Within the shrine grounds, sacred sake and Kanagawa specialty sake will be sold, featuring six breweries as part of the “Kanagawa Sake Brewery Special.”

The “Ominomiya Marche” will be held simultaneously with vendors including “Yokohama Kimijimaya,” “HIMEMIKOJAPAN,” and “Jazz Cafe Chigusa Preservation Society.” On the road in front of the shrine, food trucks will sell meals like “Salam Kebab” and “The Little Prince’s Stone-baked Sweet Potatoes,” along with miscellaneous goods.

Additionally, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, a walking tour themed “Yoshida Shinden Knot Mystery Solving” will be held. Capacity is 15 people with advance registration required.

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CRAFT.

“CRAFT” is not a specific, well-known place or cultural site, so a summary cannot be provided. To give you an accurate description, please specify a particular location, museum, or cultural institution.

BankPark YOKOHAMA

BankPark YOKOHAMA is a modern commercial and cultural complex located in Yokohama, Japan, which opened in 2020. It was developed on the former site of the Yokohama Branch of the Bank of Japan, incorporating and preserving the historic 1912 red brick building into its contemporary design. The site now features shops, restaurants, event spaces, and a hotel, blending the city’s financial history with new public amenities.

Sankeien Garden

Sankeien Garden is a traditional Japanese landscape garden in Yokohama that dates back to 1906. It was created by a wealthy silk trader, Tomitaro Hara, who collected and relocated historic buildings from across Japan, including Kyoto and Kamakura. The garden features ponds, streams, and seasonal flora, with structures such as a three-story pagoda and tea houses that showcase centuries of Japanese architectural history.

Ominomiya Hie Shrine

Ominomiya Hie Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Omi, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. It is considered a branch of the famous Hie Shrine (also known as Sanno Shrine) in Tokyo and is dedicated to the deity Oyamakui-no-Kami, a protector of mountains and agriculture. Historically, it has served as a central place of worship for the local community, with its origins believed to date back to the Heian period (794-1185).

Toyota Mobility Kanagawa Minami Store

The Toyota Mobility Kanagawa Minami Store is a modern facility showcasing Toyota’s latest vehicles and mobility solutions. It represents the company’s evolution from an automaker to a comprehensive mobility provider, offering services like car sharing and support for diverse transportation needs in the Kanagawa region.

Yokohama Kimijimaya

Yokohama Kimijimaya is a historic department store founded in 1881, making it one of the oldest in Japan. It is renowned for its high-quality food hall, particularly its selection of imported goods and fine confectionery, reflecting Yokohama’s long history as a major international port. The store has become a beloved local institution, blending Japanese tradition with cosmopolitan influences.

HIMEMIKOJAPAN

Himemiko Japan is a cultural site in Nara Prefecture featuring a reconstructed ancient Japanese palace and traditional gardens. It serves as a cultural and event center designed to showcase aspects of Japan’s historical Heian period (794-1185) architecture and aesthetics. The complex offers visitors immersive experiences into classical Japanese arts, crafts, and the atmosphere of an imperial-era residence.

Jazz Cafe Chigusa Preservation Society

The Jazz Cafe Chigusa Preservation Society is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Cafe Chigusa, a legendary jazz “kissa” (coffee shop) that opened in Yokohama, Japan, in 1933. It was a crucial cultural hub where Japanese jazz enthusiasts gathered to listen to rare imported records, fostering a deep appreciation for the genre during the Showa era. The society works to maintain its history and the unique listening culture it represented.