The gentle waves of the Seto Inland Sea calm the heart just by looking at them.
The shimmering surface of the water, reflecting the sunlight, is one element that creates the scenery of Setouchi.
KARAKOTO Sketch Marché is a market event where you can spend an afternoon enjoying the view of the Seto Inland Sea.
From the event venue located in the area of Seto Inland Sea National Park in Kojima, Kurashiki City, you can overlook the gently spreading Seto Inland Sea.
The third KARAKOTO Sketch Marché was held on November 13, 2021 (Saturday).
Having enjoyed the KARAKOTO Sketch Marché along with the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea, I would like to introduce some highlights.
I also spoke with the organizer, Nishiyama Maki of Atelier sora design, about the background of the event and the situation in Karakoto.
I will also share Nishiyama's thoughts on the KARAKOTO Sketch Marché.
What is KARAKOTO Sketch Marché?
Overview of KARAKOTO Sketch Marché
KARAKOTO Sketch Marché is a market event held irregularly in Karakoto, Kojima, Kurashiki City.
It has been held in June and October 2021, and this event is the third.
It takes place at the site of a former national lodge at the foot of Ojigadake Hill, where you can also enjoy the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea and mountains.
The event runs from noon (12:00 PM) to 8:00 PM, featuring the first night market.
One of the features of KARAKOTO Sketch Marché is enjoying alcohol while watching the Seto Inland Sea at dusk and after sunset.
Highlights of KARAKOTO Sketch Marché
The greatest charm of KARAKOTO Sketch Marché is the view from the event venue.
From the area designated as a national park, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Seto Inland Sea.
When I visited, I could see islands floating in the vast sea and the mountain ridges towering in Shikoku in the distance.
You can also see the Seto-Ohashi Bridge stretching horizontally from the Kojima Peninsula to the opposite side in Kagawa Prefecture.
While gazing at the shimmering surface of the water reflecting the sunlight, it is a market where you can spend leisurely time.
Participating Stores in KARAKOTO Sketch Marché
The participating stores in KARAKOTO Sketch Marché include famous shops active in Okayama City and Kurashiki City.
▼ The participating stores are as follows:
| Store Name | Products Offered |
|---|---|
| Okonomiyaki Restaurant Bell | Sales of okonomiyaki, oyster pancakes, etc. |
| Mizuki-ya | Sales of chewy potatoes, churros, etc. |
| Patisserie Le Vert | Sales of Western sweets |
| Naish Curry | Sales of vegetable curry, etc. |
| Taiwan Rice KURASHIKI | Offering Taiwanese cuisine |
| Matsuya Seimen | Sales of udon |
| Kagiyama Gallery Bar | Sales of alcoholic beverages and art |
Product Introduction
Not only the scenery visible from the event venue but also the food offered at KARAKOTO Sketch Marché is full of charm.
I will introduce some products that caught my attention.
Taiwan Burger
Taiwan Rice KURASHIKI offers Taiwanese cuisine from a food truck.
This dish was developed in collaboration with staff from Taiwan at the guesthouse Yuji-inn located in the Bikan Historical Area of Kurashiki City.
The product I ordered was the Taiwan Burger.
When I bit into the chewy bread and chicken coated in sweet sauce, a mellow flavor spread in my mouth.
Cilantro was generously included, which was delightful for me as a cilantro lover.
Curry Udon
Among the food available at KARAKOTO Sketch Marché, one particularly noteworthy item is the collaboration product from the participating stores.
The Curry Udon is a collaboration between Matsuya Seimen, a udon maker in Kojima, Kurashiki City, and Naish Curry, a curry shop in Nishinakada, Kurashiki City.
Matsuya Seimen and Naish Curry have frequently been adjacent to each other at previous market events.
They thought it would be interesting to offer curry udon by utilizing each other's products, but they had not been able to establish a sales method.
So, the organizer Nishiyama arranged the sales method for the curry udon.
This time at KARAKOTO Sketch Marché, the first collaboration product, curry udon, was realized.
You can enjoy the firm noodles made by Matsuya Seimen along with the mellow curry from Naish Curry.
Rice Flour Taiwanese Castella ~ Chai Fluffy ~
The second collaboration product I would like to introduce is the rice flour Taiwanese castella using chai, created by Patisserie Le Vert located in Hiroe, Kurashiki City, in collaboration with Naish Curry.
The tea leaves mixed with carefully selected spices by Naish Curry are used in the rice flour Taiwanese castella, which is a signature product of Patisserie Le Vert.
Interview with Nishiyama Maki of Atelier Sora Design
I conducted an interview with Nishiyama Maki, the organizer from Atelier sora design.
Background to the Holding of KARAKOTO Sketch Marché
What was the trigger for starting the market event in Karakoto?
Nishiyama
I was planning a market event in another location, but the venue became unavailable.
Since I had already reached out to vendors, I strongly wanted to avoid cancellation and was looking for another place to hold the market event.
I was introduced to the place I visited by someone I was planning the event with, and that became the venue for this event.
Moved by the beautiful scenery that represents the Seto Inland Sea, I decided to hold the market event in Karakoto.
I was drawn to Karakoto and encountered this wonderful scenery.
Why did you decide to hold a night market?
Nishiyama
Until now, KARAKOTO Sketch Marché has only been held during the day, and the equipment dismantling work was done from dusk to after sunset.
While hurriedly packing up tents, I happened to glance towards the sea and noticed a beautiful sunset.
As the sun disappeared beyond the horizon, the sky darkened.
Then, after the sky darkened, the illuminated Seto-Ohashi Bridge sparkled floating on the night sea.
I wanted many people to notice the beauty of the changing scenery over time, so I planned the night market.
Thoughts of the People Living in Karakoto
What is the reaction of the local people?
Nishiyama
I was anxious about holding the event as an outsider, but when I held the first KARAKOTO Sketch Marché here, there was a positive response from the local people.
Since it was a place that had been used as a national lodge, and you can enjoy a wonderful view, the local people seemed to be looking for ways to utilize it.
The event venue is designated as a national park, making it difficult to develop water and sewage systems.
However, for vendors engaged in mobile sales, it was a place they were good at.
It has become a fruitful event for both the vendors and the local people.
What do the local people think of Karakoto?
Nishiyama
Since starting KARAKOTO Sketch Marché, I have had more opportunities to talk with local people.
Listening to the stories of the local people, I can feel that many have a deep affection for the land of Karakoto, which has a wonderful landscape.
They seemed pleased that a market event is being held in Karakoto.
Additionally, it seems that including the name "Karakoto" in the event was a pleasant thing for the local people.
The area known as Karakoto, despite its beautiful scenery, is a place that is not as familiar compared to the names of Kurashiki and Kojima.
They were delighted that it could be a chance for people to learn about the region.
Visiting KARAKOTO Sketch Marché
Is it just me, or does the sound of the word "Karakoto" feel pleasant?
The cute rhythm of the sound matches well with the calm scenery of the Seto Inland Sea seen from Karakoto.
While gazing at the afternoon sky slowly changing from light blue to orange, I felt a gentle feeling, just like the sound of Karakoto.
It should be possible to sense that Karakoto is a place one can feel attached to by visiting and seeing the scenery.
By spending a peaceful time while admiring the beautiful scenery of the Seto Inland Sea, I have added another favorite landscape to my collection.
KARAKOTO Sketch Marché Data
| Name | KARAKOTO Sketch Marché |
|---|---|
| Date | Held irregularly Event times vary |
| Location | Karakoto-cho, Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Website | Atelier sora design (Instagram) |
