On December 4 (Saturday) and 5 (Sunday), 2021, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, the Market for Creating Things and Events called Umi no Ichi was held at the former Oshima Higashi Elementary School grounds in Kasaoka City, Okayama.
The Umi no Ichi was organized by the Share Atelier Umi no Kosha (hereafter referred to as Umi no Kosha), where creators gather.
The Umi no Ichi was held at Umi no Kosha (the former Oshima Higashi Elementary School grounds and school building), located southeast of Kasaoka City, near the Oshima Minohama Fishing Cooperative.
Over the two days, the event was bustling with many vendors and visitors, and I will provide a photo report of this event for creating things and events!
The information provided is based on the details from the article published in December 2021. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the Market for Creating Things and Events "Umi no Ichi"?
Umi no Ichi is a craft market organized by the staff of Umi no Kosha, high school students, general volunteers, and vendors.
The concept of Umi no Ichi was shared by Minami Tomoyuki, the representative director of the NPO Umi no Kosha Oshima Higashi Elementary School, during an interview at Umi no Kosha in September 2021.
Three months after the interview, the concept was realized as the Market for Creating Things and Events "Umi no Ichi".
Umi no Ichi Starts at 10:00 AM
On December 4, the preparations for Umi no Ichi began early in the morning.
When I arrived at the former Oshima Higashi Elementary School grounds at 9:00 AM, the vendors were in the final stages of preparation and were very busy.
I also helped set up tents and other tasks.
Umi no Ichi opens at 10:00 AM.
Vendors' booths are lined up in a single row around the grounds.
At 10:00 AM, when Umi no Ichi opened, customers entered after temperature checks and hand sanitization at the reception.
On December 4, due to strong winds and low temperatures, the number of visitors was slow at first, but gradually it became lively, and by noon, the grounds were quite full of people.
The next day, December 5, was a Sunday.
With less wind and higher temperatures, people started flowing in as soon as it opened at 10:00 AM.
There were 27 vendors at Umi no Ichi.
Over the two days, I also took my time to browse and shop at the stores that were participating.
Exploring the Shops at Umi no Ichi
The vendors at Umi no Ichi had options for either one-day participation on December 4 or 5, or participation on both days.
Since most shops participated on both days, many customers said, "I came on the 4th and enjoyed it, so I came again on the 5th!"
Now, let me introduce the shops that participated on the 4th and 5th.
Product Sales and Workshops
Here are the shops that sold products and held workshops at Umi no Ichi.
- Ishida Hat Manufacturing Co., Ltd. @ishidaseibou
- Flowers and Embroidery CoRte @corte_pepe
- Itomonokarafuru @itomonocolorful @itomonotooyatu
- Michikusa @wildflower_michikusa
- SIRUHA @siruha
- tetewa
- Oshima Community Development Council Craft Class
- Antiques and Goods Umineko @umineko28a
- SLOWHAND DEPARTMENT @slowhand.department
- Nakao Lamp @nakaolamp
- jam tun @jamtun.africa
- Kikuchi of Diatomaceous Earth @keisoudofukuyama
- Leather studio Third @third.lifewithleather
- needle WORKS × kinaco…… @needleworks.mie
- Southern Tree @southerntree373
- Hasegawa Kazuki
- Yasuzawa Yuri, medell design @medelldesign
- Kasaoka Brand @kasaokabrand
- Muji
Ishida Hat Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Ishida Hat Manufacturing Co., Ltd. was selling straw hats and winter hats, and has a workshop located within Umi no Kosha.
In addition to its main factory located in Kobirai, Kasaoka City, it occupies the art room of Umi no Kosha.
At Umi no Ichi, they were selling many winter hats on the grounds!
Flowers and Embroidery CoRte
Flowers and Embroidery CoRte was selling accessories with three-dimensional embroidery.
The delicate three-dimensional embroidery is captivating.
It seems that the works of Flowers and Embroidery CoRte are also sold at tricoter+.
Itomonokarafuru
Itomonokarafuru, located within Umi no Kosha, was selling yarn-based goods such as knitted and embroidered items, as well as paper products.
They had warm wool hats, and since the first day, December 4, was windy and cold, many people seemed to be interested in them.
The husband of the owner of Itomonokarafuru, Mr. Mako (Hirata Shoten), was also selling leather goods.
Hirata Shoten is a small shop that exists only in a trunk.
It is a space filled with adorable creations.
Michikusa
Selling grass flower swags and wreaths is Michikusa.
A swag is a German word for wall decoration.
The owner of Michikusa works at SIRUHA, which is also located within Umi no Kosha, and participates in markets during her days off.
SIRUHA
SIRUHA, which creates works in the health room of Umi no Kosha and displays them in part of the changing room, was selling notebooks, bags, and small items.
The mini wallet made of paraffin canvas is cute.
There were also carefully crafted leather products.
Oshima Community Development Council Craft Class
The Oshima Community Development Council, located inside the "House with a View of the Sea" in Oshima-naka, Kasaoka City, held craft classes and sold basket bags made from craft tape. They also sold the popular Oshima Burger from Kasaoka City.
The members of the Oshima Community Development Council are engaged in various activities to revitalize the Oshima area.
Their recommendation is a wreath made from seashells collected from the Oshima area's coastline.
The delicate creations were beautiful!
Zakka and Antique Umineko
The Zakka and Antique Umineko displayed teak goods, furniture, glass items, and Japanese antique tools.
Umineko is a shop dealing in antique items located in Bisei Town, Ibara City, Okayama.
A variety of charming items were lined up.
SLOWHAND DEPARTMENT
SLOWHAND DEPARTMENT was selling antique tools and furniture.
They had remade chairs that were used in elementary and middle schools, giving a nostalgic feel, and colorful animal figurines were sold for 300 to 500 yen, making it a fun shop just to look around.
The owner is also an interesting and unique person.
Nakao Lamp
Nakao Lamp is a shop selling color-ordered wooden lamp shades.
The wooden lamp shades are all gentle and convey the warmth of wood.
You can specify the color of each part, allowing you to order a lamp shade to your liking.
Everything is said to be finished by hand.
jam tun
jam tun is a shop selling African fabric goods, clothing, and African print fabrics.
Among the offerings at Umi no Ichi, the African print fabrics stood out remarkably.
Kikuchi of Diatomaceous Earth
Kikuchi's Diatomaceous Earth held a handprint and footprint workshop using diatomaceous earth plates.
Additionally, there was a sale of diatomaceous earth stones and a mini wall painting experience corner.
In the mini wall painting experience corner, both adults and children were enjoying painting the walls.
needle WORKS × kinaco….
needle WORKS × kinaco…. sold fabric goods, woodworking products, pottery, and calendars.
Unique fabric bags and cute chairs were displayed, along with pottery created by the daughter of the needle WORKS owner!
Leather studio Third
Leather studio Third held a workshop and sold leather goods.
The small dog collars made in the workshop were adorable.
There were also triangular coin cases and seal cases, which would surely catch the attention of leather lovers.
Leather studio Third was only selling on December 4, so I regretted not buying the seal case I was interested in when I found out they weren't there on the 5th (laughs).
MUJI to GO at Yume Town Fukuyama
MUJI to GO Mobile Sales Bus is a mobile store based at MUJI in Yume Town Fukuyama.
On December 1, 2021 (Wednesday), the MUJI to GO Mobile Sales Bus made its first appearance in front of Kasaoka Station.
It will also come to Kasaoka Station and Sun Life Kasaoka on December 15 (Wednesday).
The mobile store from MUJI came to Umi no Ichi! As a result, it was bustling with many customers!
Kasaoka Brand
The Kasaoka Brand is recognized by Kasaoka City as high-quality products that utilize materials and techniques made in Kasaoka City.
A variety of Kasaoka brand products were on display.
Florist Man's flower art director Yoshiyuki Manki was also selling as a staff member.
There was also a corner where you could draw lots to win a product, and it seemed to be selling well.
Southern Tree
The representative director of NPO Share Atelier Umi no Kosha, Oshima Higashi Elementary School, Minami Tomoyuki will also have a booth for Southern Tree.
Southern Tree sold wooden goods and wooden toys.
Many gentle works that convey the warmth of wood were lined up!
All the handmade products for sale are irresistible
With so many shops participating, the more you look, the more you want to buy.
In addition to the shops introduced in the photos, there were tetewa, which sold clothing and accessories for adults and children, Hasegawa Kazuaki, who held embroidery workshops, and medell design, a denim apparel brand that newly moved into Share Atelier Umi no Kosha.
Delicious Food and Drinks
At Umi no Ichi, takeout food and drinks were also sold, so the central resting area was always full of customers.
- Asahi Bakery @asahi.bakery
- Maruhyaku Fresh Fish
- Stone Oven Pizza
- Mushima Hama Brewery @mushima_hama_brewery
- Setouchi Dried Fruits @setouchi.dryfruits
- Arita Shoten @aritasyouten
- pasión @okasinapasion
- Oshima Burger from Oshima Community Development Council
- Southern Tree @southerntree373
Stone Oven Pizza
K's LABO, located in Kitagi-shima, Kasaoka City, offers creative pizzas.
The recommended dish is the Kasaoka specialty, the parent chicken char siu pizza.
When I ordered, there was about a 15-minute wait.
The freshly baked pizza from the stone oven was exquisite!
Mushima Hama Brewery
Mushima Hama Brewery produces craft beer that represents Kasaoka.
The refreshing "Beginning of Barley" is a standard beer that goes down smoothly.
By the morning of the 5th, it had already sold out due to its popularity.
They also held a workshop for making can badge bottle openers!
Setouchi Dried Fruits
In November 2021, the new tenant at Share Atelier Umi no Kosha was Setouchi Dried Fruits.
They sell dried fruits made from fruits harvested around Kasaoka.
A variety of dried fruits were lined up in abundance.
Arita Shoten
Arita Shoten was selling grissini made with malt residue and quiche made with Arita vegetables from Kasaoka City.
The highlight was the Takana Soboro Bento.
For lunch on the 4th, I had the Takana Soboro Bento.
It was delicious!
I also bought some Arita vegetables!
pasión
Pound cake and scones, along with fruit syrup, were sold at pasión.
The pound cakes sold out shortly after opening, proving their popularity as they are sold at various markets!
Oshima Town Development Council Oshima Burger
The Oshima Town Development Council is actively promoting the Oshima Burger.
They sell a greedy burger set that includes a shrimp cutlet burger and a kakiage burger.
The Oshima Burger, often seen at events in Kasaoka City, is popular everywhere and sells out quickly.
At Umi no Ichi, the first batch sold out early, and they hurriedly made more Oshima Burgers to sell, which kept them very busy.
Fried Fish and Bread are Thriving
Freshly fried small fish caught near Kasaoka were sold by Maruhyaku Fresh Fish @ Oshima Minami-hama Fishing Cooperative.
At the time of the interview, the bread prepared by Asahi Bakery had just sold out.
Both Maruhyaku Fresh Fish and Asahi Bakery were very popular!
Southern Tree, which sold wooden crafts and toys, also offered authentic Indian curry.
On December 4, it was windy and cold, so the warm Indian curry was very welcome.
You can also tour the inside of the school building at Umi no Ichi
A craft market was held on the grounds.
Not only the grounds but also the inside of Share Atelier Umi no Kosha was opened to the public for free tours.
There were also tours guiding visitors through the school building, and many people were leisurely exploring the interior.
Entering the classrooms to view the workshops and works must have been an exciting space for those who love making things.
Classrooms without staff were viewable through the windows.
Many people were seen walking around taking photos inside the school building with their DSLR cameras.
It seems that the interior of the school is also a subject of interest.
It was impressive to see older individuals, who seemed to have attended the former Oshima Higashi Elementary School, walking down the hallway saying, "How nostalgic!"
From the Writer
Share Atelier Umi no Kosha started in the summer of 2021.
The craft market that the representative director, Mr. Minami, had envisioned from the beginning has come to fruition.
The goal of letting the local people know about Share Atelier Umi no Kosha was likely achieved during the first Umi no Ichi.
So many people visited Share Atelier Umi no Kosha over the two days, taking in the creators' works and exploring the workshops.
Additionally, the outstanding location and the nostalgic workshops utilizing the former Oshima Higashi Elementary School create a space that stimulates the creativity of the resident creators, as I felt when talking to the resident creators.
Umi no Ichi is said to be held regularly, with the second Umi no Ichi scheduled for April 2022.
I am looking forward to the second Umi no Ichi in April 2022 when it gets warmer!
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
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We want to hold events in the grounds.
Since Umi no Kosha has just started, it is not very well known yet.
Therefore, I think we need an event where local people and those who are curious about "What is Umi no Kosha?" can easily come to visit.
And I want everyone to know more and more about Umi no Kosha.