ANNUAL EVENTS
SPRING
Every April, the traditional Spring festival is held in
the city and its surrounding area. This festival is highlighted
by a parade of thirteen floats (dashi) and the performance of clockwork
Puppets and dolls (Karakuri Ningyo). The mechanical yet lifelike performance of
these dolls astonished the people of the Edo period
and still arouse interest to this day.
SUMMER
ln late August the Tokoname ceramic Festival
is held for two days (Saturday and Sunday). The festival includes a sale of
Tokoname-ware on a huge scale, a display of fireworks
after dark, and a ceramic arts contest (Choza-sho). Over
300 thousand people visit this festival annually.
AUTUMN
During the harvest season an Agricultural Encouragement Festival
is held to promote city agriculture. The production of Kiwi-fruit
is particularly encouraged by the municipal government.
Other autumn events include the citizens'sports and cultural festivals,
and the Choza Ceramic Industry Contest which honors manufacturing of
high quality ceramic products.
WINTER
Due to its fine shoaling beach and a
prevailing wind from Mt.lbuki which blows
across lse Bay, Tokoname produces laver
of highest quality.
IWCAT
Many visitors from overseas have come to Tokoname to study ceramic art, since the
lnternational Workshop of Ceramic Art in Tokoname
(lWCAT) was opened in l985. The purpose of this
program is to invite people from around the world,
who are interested in ceramics, providing them
with an opportunity to learn ceramic art in
Tokoname, staying in citizen's homes for one
month during the summer. Fifteen to twenty
students or artists from about ten countries join
in this workshop every year. The program has
been planned and organized by citizen's volunteer groups.