Updated:February 18, 2021

Mayor’s comment about prefecture intangible cultural assets (technology of arts and crafts) designation of workmanship technology of Mikawachi Ceramic  (technology holders: Mr. Ichiro Nakazato and Mr. Hitoshi Imamura.

February 18, 2021

2 people of "workmanship technology of Mikawachi Ceramic", Mr. Ichiro Nakazato and Mr. Hitoshi Imamura, having been succeeded to at Mikawachi- district of Sasebo-City, were designated as a new Nagasaki-Pref. designation intangible cultural assets (technology of arts and crafts) at the Board of Education of Nagasaki-Pref. today.

 

Out of "workmanship technology of Mikawaxhi Ceramic", the "chrysanthemum ornamental workmanship" Mr. Ichiro Nakazato completes by the porcelain earth made the strong point are learned about as the technology which completes the composite plant of the white porcelain delicately by a bamboo spatula, and the "crinkle workmanship" by which Mr. Hitoshi Imamura is made his strong point is learned about as the technology which completes a dragon of white porcelain and an insect cage closely by hand.

 

Both persons, who were being brought by the time of an order kiln system of the Hirado feudal clan up more than the Edo Period at Mikawachi-district, acquired the porcelain workmanship technology succeeded to by a traditional method and were making an effort toward the preservation and succession, We are pleased to know that they are deserved to be designated as Nagasaki-Prf. intangible cultural assets as a technology holder of "workmanship technology of Mikawachi Cetamic.”

 

“Mikawachi-Ceramic” is the traditional industry which was authorized as a component of a Japanese legacy "Home Hizen of Japanese Ceramic” and represents Sasebo-city in 2016.
However, it has difficulty by which an intangible cultural assets is it's the one which has no shapes literally, and that I'm informing a next generation also contains the technology. I think more preservation and succession are planned for by 2 cases of this prefecture designation as the valuable culture which should be told in the future very happily as well as I'm thinking it'll be the some help which protects and tells more development and cultural asset in Mikawachi-district.
 

Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my deepest thanks for Nagasaki-Prefecture and all the members of  Cultural Properties Commissioner who evaluated "Mikawachi Ceramic workmanship technology”, everybody concerned and the residents of the area.

 

Although we are still under very severe situations having coronavirus (COVID-19) infection by expansion, I'm glad to be able to do such wonderful report. As Sasebo-city, I would like to endeavor so that the technology with this rare kind may be succeeded to in posterity as treasure of Sasebo-city as the valuable cultural asset which indicates history in Nagasaki-prefecture and show everybody of inhabitant of a prefecture and a citizen widely.

 

Such being the case, everybody of the citizens is cordially requested to render your kind understanding and your kind cooperation to our match of preservation of cultural properties of this city.

Norio Tomonaga
Mayor of Sasebo