by Cornelia Reiher

Arita in Saga Prefecture is known as “the birthplace of Japanese porcelain”. In 2016, the town celebrated the 400th anniversary of porcelain production in Japan. Although Arita’s ceramic industry has suffered from economic crisis since the burst of Japan’s bubble economy in the 1990s, the ceramics industry is economically and culturally important. The annual Ceramic Fair (tōki ichi) is Arita’s major tourist attraction. It takes place every year during Golden Week (April 29 to May 5). More than a million guests visit Arita to make a bargain at the many ceramic stalls and to enjoy exhibitions, parades, performances and culinary treats.

The Ceramics Fair took place in 1896 for the first time. But in 2020, the 117th Ceramics Fair was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was substituted by an online event. 129 ceramic shops participated in Arita’s first Web Ceramic Fair and sales went better than expected[1]. Nevertheless, cancellation of the Ceramics Fair posed serious economic problems to many kilns and porcelain shops as the Ceramics Fair is the major annual event to boost their sales. In order to support kilns and retailers, the municipality issued financial support to kilns, retailers and restaurants. Other support measures included crowdfunding activities to help individual companies (https://www.makuake.com/event/online_toukiichi_2020/) [2].

This year, the Ceramics Fair was scheduled to open for visitors again. In response to the increasing number of Covid-19 infections in Japan’s metropoles Tokyo and Osaka, the organizing committee had decided on a number of safety measures to prevent the spread of the virus during the Ceramics Fair including refraining from selling food and drinks and taking visitor’s temperatures.

Despite all the careful considerations and preparations, on April 13, the Ceramics Fair was cancelled again due to the pandemic (https://www.town.arita.lg.jp/main/8785.html). It will be the second time the Ceramics Fair can only take place online. The online shop opens on April 29 (http://www.arita-toukiichi-web.jp/). But just like last year, online sales will only make up for a small part of the financial losses. Overall, the cancellation of this year’s Ceramics Fair is devastating for everyone involved, not only economically, but also for the community as a whole. I miss the parades of residents dancing the local sara odori on the main street and can only hope that Arita will recover from this blow. Meanwhile, I am looking forward to next year’s Ceramics Fair.

[1]
Saga Shinbun(May 5, 2020), Sōzō ijō no ureyuki: Web Arita tōki ichi, https://www.saga-s.co.jp/articles/-/519866 (last accessed April 18, 2021).
[2]
Saga Shinbun(May 12, 2020), Shingata Corona: Arita-chō ga dokuji shiensaku, https://www.saga-s.co.jp/articles/-/521723 (last accessed April 18, 2021).