UTSUWA—Exploring Mingei Through Vessels

Exhibition 

UTSUWA 
Exploring Mingei Through Vessels
2026.July 23—August 03.

Journal No. 1
器から民藝の旅へ Exploring vessels through the spirit of mingei.

Written by Natsumi Akatsuka
Founder & Director, ITSUMO

Earlier this year, ITSUMO settled into our new home at 269 E. 6th Ave.
As we began this chapter, I found myself returning to a simple question:
"What draws me to everyday objects?"
It is a question I have found myself returning to time and again—a quiet thread that has guided my journey with ITSUMO and shaped the way I understand everyday life. While traveling throughout Japan, I visit museums, kiln towns, places of making, and temples—not simply to find beautiful objects, but to better understand the lives, landscapes, and traditions that shaped them—and, in many ways, helped me reconnect with my own roots.

This exhibition marks the first event in our reimagined retail space, and celebrates the fresh beginning of a journey we have long hoped to share.

The theme is UTSUWA—exploring vessels through the spirit of mingei.

Coined in Japan in the 1920s by philosopher Soetsu Yanagi and his companions, mingei (民藝) is often translated as “folk craft”. Yet to us, it is less a category of objects than a way of seeing.
It invites us to recognize beauty in things made not for display, but for daily life—objects shaped by use, tradition, humility, and the quiet skill of unnamed makers. Rather than seeking perfection or individual expression, mingei reminds us that beauty can emerge naturally through honest work, purpose, and a close relationship between people and materials.

I have chosen and curated the vessels in this exhibition throughout my ongoing journey and exploration of the mingei movement. Each piece spoke to me, not because it is rare or perfect, but because it carries a quiet honesty that reveals itself over time through use. Every vessel carries more than clay and glaze. It holds the memory of a place: the materials of its landscape, the knowledge passed from one generation to the next, and the countless hands that have refined its form through everyday life.

Among the works featured at this event are ceramic vessels from Aichi Prefecture and Shimane Prefecture—regions where the relationship between land, materials, craftsmanship, and everyday life has been cultivated for generations.

Seto, in Aichi prefecture, with its centuries-long history of pottery production, represents one of Japan’s most significant ceramic regions. Shimane, home to Izumo Taisha—one of Japan’s most revered sacred sites—reflects a deep connection to place, tradition, and the enduring beauty found in everyday objects.

While this exhibition is rooted in Japanese mingei, it also brings together works by potters from British Columbia. At first, this pairing may seem unexpected. To us, however, it feels entirely natural.
ITSUMO is rooted in Vancouver. We live within the landscapes, seasons, and communities of British Columbia, while remaining deeply connected to the traditions and culture of Japan. Bringing these vessels together creates a conversation between two places we call home.

This exhibition is the first chapter in an ongoing exploration of the objects that accompany daily life. In the years ahead, we hope to continue this journey with you through textiles, baskets, wooden objects, and other humble tools whose beauty is revealed not in display, but in use.
We hope you’ll join us as we begin this journey, and perhaps leave with a renewed way of seeing the everyday objects around you.

*All vessels will be available for purchase throughout the exhibition, subject to availability.

With gratitude,

Natsumi Akatsuka

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UTSUWA 
Exploring Mingei Through Vessels

Date 
2026.July 23—August 03.

Location
269 East 6th Ave. Vancouver, BC

Hours
Mon-Sat: 11:00-18:00
Sun: 12:00-17:00
Monday Aug 03 (Last day): 12:00-17:00