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    正しい姿勢の素敵な市政。
    町役人-GOVERNMENT-

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    造りたい!が止まらない。
    職人-CRAFT PEOPLE-

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    まちづくり?いいじゃねえの!
    まちづくり人-CITIZEN-

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    ミライをつくる、可能性のタマゴ。
    若衆(職人の卵、学生等)-STUDENT-

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    暮らしに辛口なスパイスを。
    芸術家-ARTIST-

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    発想を、外からも輸入。
    旅の人-NEW COMER-

The people revitalizing Takaoka

ACTIVE PERSON

Urban development in Takaoka began with Lord Maeda Toshinaga. Even today, many continue to tackle the challenge of revitalizing Takaoka while maintaining its history, traditions, and culture and putting them to use in contemporary ways.

This page introduces people who’re currently playing active roles in Takaoka, along with our predecessors. They’re grouped into six clusters: those building the community (citizens); professionals; young people (including future professionals and students); artists; visitors (supporters from both inside and outside the prefecture); and local officials (administrators).

The passion within each of you makes Takaoka such an interesting place, boosting its appeal by highlighting the festivals townscape, manufacturing skills, and other elements handed down since old times.

Artists active in Takaoka

KEY PERSON

There are many artists in Takaoka who inherit traditional culture and performing arts associated with the Maeda family of the Kaga Clan, or who express their own sensibilities and engage in creative activities in fields such as art, music, and dance.

Let’s hear what kind of perspectives they have on art and Takaoka.

Artists active in Takaoka

Urasenke Tankokai Federation

在田吉保さん

YOSHIYASU ARITA

General Headquarters Councillor
Takaoka Branch Chief

PROFILE

At the Urasenke Tankokai Federation, Yoshiyasu ARITA serves as the Takaoka Branch Chief and is actively involved in a variety of undertakings, such as providing support for tea ceremony instructors and the Uransenke Youth Division, creating learning opportunities by hosting seminars, and hosting school tea ceremonies. (Read more…)

Newcomers active in Takaoka

KEY PERSON

Takaoka historically flourished as a key crossroads of commerce and travel. Many people came and went through the area, and it fostered the growth of numerous different cultural traditions that remain alive today. We take time to speak with people who have come to the region for travel or work, or moved here, to ask them what they experience in their day-to-day life in Takaoka and bring their new viewpoints to a wider audience.

Newcomers active in Takaoka

Tokyo Institute of Technology / Honmachi-no-ie

加納亮介さん

RYOHSUKE KANOH

Graduate student / Manager of Honmachi-no-ie

PROFILE

Born in Chiba City,Chiba Prefecture. Visited Takaoka in 2013 through the introduction of his professor and participated in “Takaoka Machikko Project”. Migrated to Takaoka in 2014 and took a role in administrative operation of the guest house “Honmachi-no-ie” since May 2014.(Read more…)

Newcomers active in Takaoka

山崎慶太さん

KEITA YAMAZAKI

IRORI

PROFILE

Born in Tokyo. In his student years, backpacked through Europe and the Americas, through which he learned that travel can yield new insights. After working at a company, launched an NPO that plans a wide range of workshops and events for overseas travelers to take part in Japanese agriculture and festivals.(Read more…)

Young people (including future professionals and students) active in Takaoka

KEY PERSON

Takaoka is home to hotspots of innovation where the people who will carry the city’s manufacturing into the future are being trained—including the University of Toyama Faculty of Art and Design and traditional craft industry school at the Takaoka Design & Craft Center, where the people who will create, use, and bring together arts and culture in the future—as well as many young people working hard to make their dreams real.

Let’s take a look at the activities of these students in Takaoka.

Young people (including future professionals and students) active in Takaoka

University of Toyama Faculty of Art and Design

河原つかささん

KAWAHARA TSUKASA

University Student

PROFILE

Kawahara Tsukasa was born in the city of Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture. She joined the Arts and Culture Department at The University of Toyama in 2014. She originally enjoyed drawing, and was a member of the art club in high school.(Read more…)

Young people (including future professionals and students) active in Takaoka

University of Toyama Faculty of Art and Design

伊藤芽衣さん

ITO MEI

University Student

PROFILE

Originally from Yamagata Prefecture, Ms. Ito enrolled in the Design and Communication Course in the University of Toyama Faculty of Art and Design in 2012. She also served as representative of Creatou, a student organization that seeks to unite students with craftspeople. (Read more…)

The people at work building the community of Takaoka

KEY PERSON

Takaoka retains the traditional townscape inherited from its long history going back to its founding 400 years ago. Within this environment, some people are trying to create new appeal in Takaoka. But how does one go about creating new appeal on the canvas of this historic community? Let’s look at some hints for building the Takaoka of the future.

The people at work building the community of Takaoka

Architect/designer

大菅洋介さん

Oosuga Yousuke

Oosuga Design Office studiooosuga/Oosuga Shoten

PROFILE

An architect and designer born in Asahi, Toyama Prefecture. Remodeled a storehouse-style merchant’s in Yamachosuji Street to open the cafe Comma, Coffee Stand.(Read more…)

The people at work building the community of Takaoka

大野悠さん

OHNO YU

Ohno-ya

PROFILE

Developed Takaoka Ramune, the new local specialty, using molds used for traditional Japanese sweets at Ohno-ya, a long-standing Japanese confection shop established in 1838.(Read more…)

Craftspeople active in Takaoka

KEY PERSON

These craftspeople tackle the challenge of making items for today’s way of life while inheriting the traditional techniques of Takaoka copperware and Takaoka lacquerware. What kinds of new experiments are getting their start today in Takaoka’s manufacturing workplaces?

The words of traditional craftspeople living today are sure to include the keys to putting history and tradition to use in the future.

Craftspeople active in Takaoka

Musasigawa Koubou

武蔵川剛嗣さん

MUSASHIGAWA TAKESHI

Lacquerware craftsperson

PROFILE

A young traditional craftsperson who has inherited the traditional Takaoka lacquerware technique of aogai-nuri, designated a traditional handcraft by the government of Japan, as the fourth generation of Musashigawa Kobo, founded in 1910. Aogai-nuri, a traditional technique unique to Takaoka, is commonly referred to as raden (mother-of-pearl inlay). (Read more…)

Craftspeople active in Takaoka

Takata Factory

高田晃一さん

TAKATA KOICHI

Metal casting craftsperson

PROFILE

Producer and Vice-President of Takata Factory, which produces high-quality products by refining metal materials using the casting and mirror-polishing techniques it has built up in manufacture of Buddhist altar fittings.(Read more…)