Are you choosing the things you like with your own eyes?
At Toworu Mingei, a shop with a large sign at the foot of Achi Shrine, overlooking the Bikan Historical Area, the staff recommend household items while valuing conversations with their customers.
What is it about Toworu Mingei that has made it a favorite not only among Kurashiki City residents but also tourists since it opened in 1971?
We spoke with Yamamoto Takanori, who took over Toworu Mingei from its previous owner in February 2022.
The information presented here was accurate when this article was published in June 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About Toworu Mingei
Toworu Mingei is a folkcraft shop in the Bikan Historical Area, housed in a traditional townhouse dating back to the Edo period.
The shop displays folkcraft items from across Japan, including pottery, cups, and handwoven textiles, personally selected and purchased by owner Yamamoto and the previous owner, Kobayashi Yuko. Fans come from all over Japan, as well as from within Kurashiki City.
The origins of Toworu Mingei
From JR Kurashiki Station, walk through Ebisu-dori Shopping Street and a distinctive sign reading “Mingei Toworu” catches the eye.
The sign was made by a woodworker using lettering by Tonomura Kichinosuke, the first director of Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft, Japan’s first regional folkcraft museum.
Since it opened, Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft, which showcases folkcraft items, has also needed a way to distribute folkcraft to the people who use it.
That role of distributing folkcraft was taken on by Okayama Prefectural Folkcraft Promotion Co., Ltd.
The first owner of Toworu Mingei, Kobayashi Yuko, also worked for Okayama Prefectural Folkcraft Promotion Co., Ltd., which at the time had a sales area at Tenmaya Okayama Main Store. Later, with support from Tonomura Kichinosuke and others, she opened Toworu Mingei in 1971.
The shop’s name, “Toworu,” comes from Kobayashi Yuko’s name. At first, she was not used to the shop name “Toworu,” which is pronounced differently from her own name, Yuko, but she says she grew attached to it as the shop continued for many years.
How to enjoy Toworu Mingei
The shop may seem packed with all kinds of folkcraft items, including ceramics, blown glass, washi paper, and baskets, but there is room to take a good look at each and every item.
The windows facing the alley are made of glass, letting in beautiful natural light. The items always seem to sparkle, and every time I visit, I can’t help but be enchanted by the shop.
You can also pick up any item and feel its texture, making this a shop where you can take your time finding your own favorite.
One of Toworu Mingei’s distinctive features is its layout, which lets you see the entire shop from anywhere inside.
As customers handle the items, they apparently often get into lively conversations with the owner and other customers about “how to incorporate this tool into their own lives.”
Shop owner Yamamoto Takanori
Owner Yamamoto is originally from Kurashiki City, but after working at studios and production companies in Tokyo, he became independent. He worked as a freelance photographer.
The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake prompted him to move back to Kurashiki.
He returned to Okayama Prefecture in search of a more settled environment in which to raise his children.
After returning home, he joined Okayama Prefectural Folkcraft Promotion Co., Ltd., hoping to put his experience in Tokyo to use.
At Okayama Prefectural Folkcraft Promotion Co., Ltd., he drew on his experience as a photographer to take product photos and manage the online store, while learning about folkcraft every day.
After joining the company, he visited Toworu Mingei to introduce himself to Kobayashi. From then on, whenever he visited Kurashiki, he would stop by Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft and then drop in at Toworu Mingei on his way back. Kobayashi would tell him about objects, makers, and places of origin, and they gradually became close.
When Kobayashi decided to retire as owner of Toworu Mingei, she proposed that Yamamoto take over the business. Since February 2022, he has been running the shop as its owner.
Two and a half years after taking over Toworu Mingei from Kobayashi in 2022, we spoke with owner Yamamoto Takanori.
Toworu Mingei details
| Name | Toworu Mingei |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-25-48 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-424-8722 |
| Parking | None |
| Hours | 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. |
| Closed | Monday and Tuesday May close temporarily. Check social media for details. |
| Payment methods |
|
| Website | Toworu Mingei |
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