Kasaoka Handmade Festival (held September 11, 2022) ~ Excitement Spreading from Hand to Hand

What do you associate with the word "handmade"?

On September 11, 2022 (Sunday), from 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM, the Kasaoka Handmade Festival was held on the second floor of the Kasaoka City Health Center in Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture.

Not only handmade goods, but also delicious food, esthetic treatments, and stages created a truly festive atmosphere.

In this article, I will report on the Kasaoka Handmade Festival, where you can fully enjoy the emotions and fun brought by handmade crafts through your five senses.

What is the Kasaoka Handmade Festival?

The organizer is Towel Art Reelie, who is active as a towel arrangement artist.

Since 2015, it has been held every April and September on the second floor of the Kasaoka City Health Center located in Juuban-cho, Kasaoka City.

• Sale of handmade goods
• Sale of food and drinks
• Esthetic treatments such as massages
• Healing activities such as fortune-telling
• Workshops (experience corner)
• Performances and singing on stage

And much more, a packed schedule.

What kind of handmade crafts will you encounter?

With excitement, I enter the Galaxy Hall at the venue.

On stage, the trio "Lion" is performing with violin and guitar.

The soft tones of the string instruments colored the space and added beauty to the venue.

Listening to the gentle performance, I leisurely browse the shops.

Handmade Products

Twenty stores participated in the craft section.

Each handmade item is filled with the creator's thoughts.

I will pick out a few shops that caught my attention.

To Shine as Yourself. Hoshinokakera

As the shop name suggests, it is a shop of accessories that sparkle with small lights.

There are necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and brooches made with transparent beads.

The display is also lovely.

When I asked the calm and composed creator about the concept, she shyly said, "I love sparkly things."

▼ The creator's favorite piece.

A classical brooch made with a large Swarovski crystal.

It sparkled as it reflected the light.

Swarovski's high-quality crystal glass is said to shine as brightly as diamonds.

Since ancient times, it has been believed that wearing something shiny wards off evil.

Accessories not only look good but also seem to serve as talismans for good fortune.

The Sparkle of Glass. Art Studio Hotaru

What is this…?

I don't really understand, but it's beautiful.

▼ The pieces that I couldn't help but stare at.

What do you think this is??

The answer is….

A solar lamp called "Sora Hotaru."

It charges with sunlight and automatically lights up when it gets dark.

I couldn't help but imagine the beautiful glasswork glowing at the entrance or in the garden.

Moreover, it not only lights up but also casts colors and patterns from the glass, creating shadow-like images in the dark.

How romantic!

I might start looking forward to the arrival of night.

▼ On the left, there is a design featuring alpine plants like edelweiss and gentian. On the right, a palm tree carved with sand paste.

It's also convenient that it doesn't require a power source like an outlet.

It seems to last for 2-3 years without needing a battery replacement.

“Glasswork is like a momentary art.

When melting at about 900 degrees, if you let your guard down even a little, it will harden immediately.

A difference of one second, or even 0.1 seconds, can change or ruin the shape.

It's challenging, but also rewarding.”

When I spoke to the creator, she was very friendly and shared stories about the struggles unique to handmade crafts.

Each piece has a unique shape and transparency that is truly wonderful.

You can also purchase works at the flower shop in RSK Rose Garden located in Nakagawa, Okayama City.

The next event is scheduled to participate in the Onomichi Handmade Market on November 19-20.

An Accent to Life. hana terrace

Chic dry flower bouquets, wreaths, and aroma candles in simple and nostalgic colors are very stylish.

In January 2022, they opened a café in Kamogata, Asakuchi City, and this is their first time participating in an event.

They also sell fresh flowers at the café.

Receiving a bouquet like this as a small gift would be delightful.

Fresh flowers are lovely, but I also love the rustic presence of dry flowers.

Being surrounded by things you love brings happiness, doesn't it?

Especially with handmade items, you can feel the creator's sensibility and excitement, which makes you feel excited too.

Recommendations for Warmth. Kyasakoya

Gentle on the body.

The words caught my eye, and I couldn't help but stop at the shop selling cloth napkins and cloth liners.

“Not only eco-friendly, but they are also very warm when worn,” said the creator.

It is important for women not to cool their bodies.

Warming up also boosts immunity.

“They are recommended for environments where air conditioning is too strong in summer and for the upcoming cold season.

Many people use them as panty liners or absorbent liners in their daily lives.”

So, as someone who gets cold easily, I purchased a square type liner (set of 2).

The side against the skin is made of organic cotton, and the fabric is warm flannel.

When I touched it, it felt warm, soft, and fluffy.

It seems that for light discharge, you can wash it in the washing machine in a laundry net, so it looks easy to use.

The square type is popular because it doesn't stand out when drying after washing.

I want to protect my body from the cold throughout the year and live energetically.

Breathing Life into Waste Materials. Woodworking Studio FoR GooD

Very cute wooden goods.

They are made by employees of a company that manufactures furniture.

During the furniture-making process, some extra wood scraps remain.

These scraps are discarded as waste materials.

From the employees' thoughts of "What a waste... Is there something we can use this for?" these goods were born.

Employees work hard to make goods using woodworking equipment, such as sanding.

Seeing this, the furniture craftsmen gradually started to help as well.

These cute goods have been reborn from scraps that were destined to be discarded.

They are lined up, waiting for someone to notice and pick them up.

The colors and shapes have a warmth unique to wood, which is wonderful.

▼ Stacking blocks with hiragana carved on them.

I wonder if they will play by arranging names, learned words, and favorite phrases.

It would be educational and fun.

The Taste of Handmade

Five stores participated in the food section.

Since it was around lunchtime, there were quite a few temptations.

I will check each one.

Gentle Sweets for the Body. Tamapon Workshop

A bakery that prioritizes gentleness on the body.

They use domestic rice flour and lemons, and wheat flour and honey sourced from within the prefecture.

There are sweets made with local Kasaoka fruits and sweets that do not use dairy products.

The ingredients are carefully selected, including aluminum-free baking powder.

They use fresh produce from their own garden, such as pumpkins and sweet potatoes.

The sweetness is from gentle beet sugar.

▼ The shop owner's recommended cookies made with hijiki harvested from Manabe Island, Kasaoka City.

I was intrigued and decided to buy them.

The sweetness is moderate, and the texture is thin and crispy.

I can almost imagine them swaying in the waves, with a flavor of hijiki and the aroma of black sesame.

It has a Japanese-style taste that would go well with Japanese tea.

I also tried several other sweets.

All of them had a gentle sweetness, and the flavors of the ingredients were prominent.

In particular, the chewy and crispy scones and the melt-in-your-mouth fluffy chiffon cake.

They were delicious enough that I could eat them every day.

They do not have a physical store and only sell at events or by order.

Such rarity…!

A Relaxing Space. Mame to Mugi

They operate a café in Kasaoka City, Yobanchō.

The wonderful staff members have gentle smiles.

Their pleasant demeanor brings a sense of comfort.

On the day of the interview, they were selling a medium roast blend coffee that they roast themselves.

During events, they choose something easy to drink and light.

Invited by the fragrant aroma spreading in the room, I took a little break.

It has a soft taste, is easy to drink, and is delicious.

The personalities of the staff come through in the flavor.

Additive-free and安心. Hidamari Pan Kobo

A small bakery operating in Kasaoka City, Yobanchō.

The shop is small, but it has many commitments.

The ingredients include domestically produced wheat (Hokkaido).

No additives are used.

They do not use margarine or shortening, but instead use butter.

And, there is always something freshly baked when you go.

The most popular item is said to be the cream bread.

After a little past lunchtime, many items were sold out.

Bread made with consideration for the health of those who eat it.

It is bread filled with kindness.

Hidamari Pan Kobo - A small town bakery that wants to deliver safe and additive-free bread. They also hold music events.

Every day, I am devoted to visiting delicious bakeries. Just imagining the aroma of freshly baked bread and the fluffy, hot bread makes me feel happy. In fact, …

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Local Ingredients. Global Foods Corporation

A mobile food and drink sales shop.

Local production for local consumption is a commitment, and many ingredients are sourced from within the prefecture.

The soft-looking meat and the nice aroma of the sauce.

I’m getting hungry…!

The friendly owner showed me how they cook.

▼ Cutting the cutlet sandwich with an electric knife.

With an electric knife, the bread and filling do not get squished, resulting in a fluffy finish.

The cut surface and cross-section look clean and delicious.

A popular shop that often sets up at events.

Customers were continuously lined up.

Using fresh ingredients from the neighborhood, local production for local consumption is eco-friendly and contributes to the SDGs.

The Power of Spices. Ayam Çay

A shop for chai (milk tea with spices).

They are particular about the blend of spices, which changes according to the season and climate.

For example, in summer, they use more cloves for their sterilizing effect.

On the day of the interview, they were blending five types of spices, including cloves.

When I returned around 3 PM, they were already sold out.

At events, you need to grab what you’re interested in early.

I wish I could have tried it….

They say they set up as a "night café" every Tuesday night at the share shop UZ in Uno Port.

The Warmth of Handwork

Three shops participated in the healing section, such as fortune-telling, and five shops in the esthetic section, such as foot massage.

Improving Body Condition with Foot Massage. Santete

Since it’s a good opportunity, I will experience foot massage this time.

After walking around all day, my feet were a bit swollen.

“Wow, you have warm feet,”

she smiled while massaging, and her hands were also very warm.

I felt my feelings warm up, and I could feel myself relaxing.

Kasaoka City, Minami-hama has a women-only relaxation salon.

“I want to improve blood and lymph flow through foot massage and massage, leading to better body condition,”

I felt not only the healing effect but also the reliability of the practitioner in those words.

Gifts for myself after working hard are nice with meals and sweets, but sometimes it’s good to take care of the mind and body at a salon like this.

Connecting Hands. Lima

The refreshing and gentle aroma of aroma therapy wafted through the venue.

The two friendly and cheerful former nurses provide hand treatments using 100% natural and safe essential oils.

You can choose your favorite essential oil on the spot and also make bath salts and body creams.

Essential oils have various effects, and the scents you like are said to be the ones you need right now.

They carefully explained the differences in effects and how to use various types.

Usually, they provide treatments at care facilities such as day services and group homes centered in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture.

Wrapped in a nice aroma, the time spent receiving gentle hand massages.

It’s refreshing, and it seems like both the mind and body are healed.

The name Lima means "hand" or "connection" in Hawaiian.

It’s a wonderful name that suggests connecting hearts like holding hands.

Feeling kindness in "handwork" is surely because the warmth of human hands is comforting.

The two want to cherish connections with people through hand treatments.

They seem likely to heal and bring happiness to many people in the future.

A Day That Flew By

Although I couldn't introduce everything, there were many other fun shops, workshops, and fortune-telling.

The excitement felt by the creators takes shape in their hands, and those who visited the venue felt that excitement and happiness.

The venue was overflowing with everyone’s excitement.

On stage, there were guitar performances by Sharly Yoshiko & Andy and Okayama Gakugeikan Seihyu Junior High School's Ryukyu Shamisen Club.

The organizer, Towel Art Reelie, said, “I want to create a space where both customers and vendors can enjoy.”

Reelie, with her vibrant smile, is an active person.

She aims to create an event where various things can be enjoyed through the five senses throughout the day.

True to her words, the venue was very lively and friendly, and everyone, including customers, shop owners, and the stage, was enjoying together.

It’s true that fun times pass by in an instant.

There were still many shops I wanted to see, things I wanted to buy, people I wanted to talk to, and experiences I wanted to have, but the time to end had come.

The Kasaoka City Health Center is located along the greenway facing the sea inlet.

As I leisurely walked along the lush promenade and reached the seaside, I could see boats heading to the island and the Kanushima Ohashi Bridge.

From the Writer

The Kasaoka Handwork Festival is an event where you can experience dedicated handwork up close.

Listening, seeing, talking, eating, drinking, experiencing, and healing…

It was truly a fun-filled day that stimulated all five senses.

I would like to participate in a crafting workshop next time.

I am really looking forward to the next event.

Kasaoka Handmade Festival Information

Name	Kasaoka Handmade Festival
Date	September 11, 2022 (Sunday) 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Location	1-3 Juuban-cho, Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture
Participation Fee (including tax)	Free
Homepage	Kasaoka Handmade Festival

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