[Kanazawa] Visiting Kutani ware artist Imae Mio.

Kanazawa is home to the tradition of Kutani ware, one of Japan's most representative ceramics. Mio Imae is an artist who creates Kutani ware pieces in the area and delivers them to the local community. We spoke to Imae about the background and ideas behind her creative activities.

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Resol Hotels -Chubu- [Kanazawa, Nagoya, Gifu]

Our Resol Hotel was born to weave unique stories rooted in each region and become a microcosm of the city. Just as each city has its own unique shape, we welcome visitors with a different face. Hotel Resol Trinity Kanazawa ～Time you can only get in this city～ Kanazawa, the largest city in the Hokuriku region, is also known as the Kaga Hyakumangoku. Its history began in 1546 with the Kanazawa Mido temple built by Ikko sect followers, and during the reign of the O-Omameda clan during the Warring States period, traditional culture such as crafts and performing arts developed. Hotel Resol Trinity Kanazawa was born to convey the unique charm that only Kanazawa has, and to be a base for cultural inheritance and urban development. Hotel Resol Trinity Kanazawa offers a "connection" to traditions and culture that can only be found here. Experience a rich time filled with the splendor of the Kaga Hyakumangoku at Hotel Resol Trinity Kanazawa. Hotel Resol Nagoya ~A hotel with suits and sneakers~ This urban American-style hotel, with the theme of "suits and sneakers," sprinkles the taste of jazz, a musical culture unique to his country, throughout the building, creating an exquisite balance between tension and relaxation. The space, which pays attention to every single detail, from the materials to the furniture, objects, and accessories, invites travelers who seek the real thing to deep relaxation, like an "adult hangout." Hotel Resol Nagoya is a hotel for adults, where you can relax in a sophisticated space that exudes the scent of good old culture and intelligence. Hotel Resol Gifu ~Experience the culture and history nurtured by clear streams with all your senses~ Beautiful mountains overflowing with greenery. Clear streams that seem to cleanse your soul. Gifu, blessed with beautiful natural scenery and clear waters, has a long history as a city that lives with water. Just a 20-minute walk from the hotel, you will come across the city's only natural waterfall, which flows from the mountain stream originating from Momoga Mine. The scenery changes with the seasons, and you will be impressed with something new every time you visit. The feelings of the people that are imbued with water, and the industries and cultures that have been nurtured there. Hotel Resol Gifu cherishes this relationship between people and water. Please enjoy to your heart's content the story that is woven at Hotel Resol together with the city and the people.

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• Table of Contents
• Hotel Resol Trinity Kanazawa
• Let the work blend into the life of the person who picks it up
• What led to him choosing Kutani ware from his hometown, Ishikawa?
• The key phrase has always been to act immediately when you have an idea.
• Where to see Imae's work

Hotel Resol Trinity Kanazawa

All tourist spots in Kanazawa are within walking distance. Omicho Market is a one-minute walk away, making it a convenient location for sightseeing in Kanazawa. We welcome you with colorful flowers and Kaga Temari art.

Let the work blend into the life of the person who picks it up

Traditional Kutani ware is made up of old-fashioned patterns and colors, and gives off a slightly stiff impression. Imae's work is humorous and makes you laugh. She also adds her own unique twist by diluting the basic colors with white and mixing other colors in her own way, rather than using the traditional basic colors as they are.

A total of 15 colors are used to create a soft atmosphere. This changes the elegant impression of Kutani ware into something that can be easily adopted into modern life. There is no set way to use Imae's work. You can use it to hold side dishes, display accessories, or just use it as interior decoration.

His works are made with the hope that those who pick them up will use them in a way that suits their lifestyle. His free-spirited style that is not bound by tradition and his considerate attitude of not forcing his way of using things on people make his works a natural fit for our lives.

What led to him choosing Kutani ware from his hometown, Ishikawa?

While casually strolling around Nakameguro, Tokyo, he noticed a sign that read "Pottery Class." He then came across the "Kutani ware painting course" at the trial class. Until then, he had never had a strong impression of Kutani ware, and since he was from Ishikawa Prefecture, Kutani ware was a common sight in his family home.

However, he had the impression that traditional Kutani ware did not fit into modern life. While changing jobs repeatedly, Imae had wanted to try making things all the way from start to finish, so he decided to jump into the world of Kutani ware. He passed the exam in just three months. With surprising initiative, he immersed himself in the world of Kutani ware.

The key phrase has always been to act immediately when you have an idea.

Imae's works stand out with their unique three-dimensional vessels. He says that the secret to creating unique works is to draw out an idea as soon as it comes to him, and to write down notes on a nearby newspaper if an idea comes to him while he is working on another piece.

In addition, he does not stay shut up in his studio, but always tries to be connected to the outside world, and sometimes even takes on part-time jobs that are unrelated to his work. I look forward to seeing more of Imae's work, which continues to respect traditional crafts while also opening up new possibilities through various outside stimuli.

Where to see Imae's work

At Sabo Issho, a famous Kaga Bocha tea shop in Kanazawa's Higashi Chaya District, the tea is served in Imae's ware. The warmth of the Kutani ware and the aroma of roasted green tea enhance the flavor of this long-established shop.

Her work is also featured in hotels, such as Hotel Resol Trinity Kanazawa, which uses Imae's work as art in the entrance and rooms.

While respecting traditional crafts, Imae is exploring new possibilities for Kutani ware. Her technique, which deliberately expresses Kutani ware in a soft manner, is imbued with her unique "perspective on daily life."