Mashiko, Tochigi
Mashiko
益子町 | |
---|---|
Town | |
Mashiko Town Office | |
Japanese red pine | |
• Flower | Yamayuri (Lilium auratum) |
• Bird | Japanese bush warbler |
Phone number | 0285-72-2111 |
Address | 2030 Mashiko, Mashiko-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi-ken 321-4293 |
Website | Official website |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/Climbing_kiln_Mashiko.jpg/270px-Climbing_kiln_Mashiko.jpg)
Mashiko (益子町, Mashiko-machi) is a town located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 August 2020[update], the town had an estimated population of 21,841 in 7914 households,[1] and a population density of 240 persons per km2. The total area of the town is 89.40 square kilometres (34.52 sq mi). Mashiko is known for its pottery, called Mashiko ware (益子焼).
Geography
Mashiko is located in the far southeast corner of Tochigi Prefecture.
Surrounding municipalities
Climate
Mashiko has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with little snowfall. The average annual temperature in Mashiko is 13.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1378 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 30-36 °C, and lowest in January, at around -6 °C.[2]
Demographics
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Mashiko peaked around the year 2000 and has declined since.
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1920 | 15,920 | — |
1930 | 17,034 | +7.0% |
1940 | 18,347 | +7.7% |
1950 | 24,542 | +33.8% |
1960 | 21,121 | −13.9% |
1970 | 19,844 | −6.0% |
1980 | 22,104 | +11.4% |
1990 | 24,317 | +10.0% |
2000 | 25,685 | +5.6% |
2010 | 24,351 | −5.2% |
2020 | 21,898 | −10.1% |
History
Mashiko developed as a fortified temple town from the
Government
Mashiko has a
Economy
The economy of Mashiko is heavily dependent on tourism from its ceramics crafts industry. The town is also a
Education
Mashiko has four public
Transportation
Railway
Highway
Culture
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Found_MUJI_Masukoyaki_%286910169491%29.jpg/250px-Found_MUJI_Masukoyaki_%286910169491%29.jpg)
Mashiko is known for its
Mashiko is a folkware kiln site that is unlike some of the other older kiln sites around Japan. The town is open to newcomers whether or not they are potters or of other professional backgrounds in arts, sciences and education. In Japan, craftsmen are usually born into their profession, but in Mashiko, anyone can become a potter. Following Shoji Hamada, people looking to return to a more traditional Japanese lifestyle settled in the area.[4] Twice a year, coinciding with the Golden Week Holidays in the first week of May, and again for the first week of November, there is a pottery and crafts festival where potters and craftsmen from Mashiko and surrounding areas come to the town and set up stalls.
Local attractions
- Saimyō-ji, Jizo-in, Entsu-ji - Buddhist temples containing several important cultural properties (as designated by the national and prefectural governments).
Sister cities
- Shoji Hamada)
References
- ^ "Mashiko Town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
- ^ Mashiko climate data
- ^ Mashiko population statistics
- ^ Holmes, Ann Sommer. The Transition of the Artisan-Potter to the Artist Potter in Mashiko, a folkware kiln site in Japan. New York University Press, 1982. p. 12.
- Baekeland, Frederick. Modern Japanese Ceramics in American Collections. New York: Japan Society, 1993. (ISBN 0-913304-38-7)
External links
Media related to Mashiko, Tochigi at Wikimedia Commons
- Official Website (in Japanese)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg/40px-Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg.png)