Into the Bright Kyoto to organise a Noto tour to witness the region’s recovery efforts

The birthplace of Wajima-nuri lacquerware, Wajima city in Ishikawa prefecture was severely damaged by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake on January 1. Taya Shikkiten, a Wajima-nuri lacquerware store and specialist with a history of over 200 years, was badly affected. The shop is well-known for its Wajima-nuri coffee cup and ballpoint pen, which Prime Minister Fumio Kishida gifted to the President of the United States Joe Biden earlier this year.

To shed light on the region’s recovery efforts, Into The Bright Kyoto is organising an excursion to Wajima City on Friday August 30. With the Discover and Support Noto Peninsula tour, you can witness first-hand the city’s strength and resilience and its rebuilding efforts. You’ll also visit the Taya Lacquerware Store and learn from its representative, Koudai Taya, about his experience of the disaster and his hope for the region. The tour will be conducted by an English-speaking guide.

This visit to Wajima promises to be a special experience as it offers a glimpse into Japan’s traditional crafts and the country’s modern post-disaster recovery efforts. Here you’ll meet craftspeople who have overcome the disaster and are now focussing on reviving their crafts. This is a chance to immerse yourself in Japanese culture and discover the delicate beauty of traditional crafts. More importantly, you'll learn about the spirit of kanyo, a Japanese philosophy that has helped generations to overcome challenges and find the strength to embrace innovation while staying true to tradition.

The Discover and Support Noto Peninsula tour begins at Kanazawa Station at 11am. You’ll visit Taya Shikkiten’s collapsed workshop and temporary office before heading towards the damaged 700-year-old Daihonzan Sojiji-soin Temple and the Wajima morning market to learn about the city’s reconstruction efforts. The tour includes a gugumi-nomi (sake cup) drinking experience and ends back at Kanazawa Station by 7pm.

This tour is part of the international Into The Bright Kyoto forum, which aims to bring together voices from various backgrounds and industries to spark creative solutions and seek new ways to navigate an ever-changing world. For this edition of Into The Bright, participants will discover and find inspiration in the philosophy of kanyo, or the spirit of tolerance, forbearance and generosity.

Tickets are available online until August 16.