Film Synopsis
The devastations caused by the 2011 March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan continue to challenge people of all walks of life. Among those whose livelihoods and way of life have been greatly affected are Japan’s artisan potters who witnessed heavy destruction of their wares, kilns, and homes. The town of Kasama in Ibaraki Prefecture north of Tokyo has experienced all of these impacts to the point at which its survival as a historic center of ceramic craft in Japan hangs in the balance. Many local potters are confronting the decision to stay or move away, even abroad. This film focuses on Akio Nukaga, a Kasama potter who spearheads a movement to bring potters together to rebuild and rejuvenate Kasama and its rich ceramic making heritage. Under the banner of “Save Kasama Potters”, the movement is reaching beyond Kasama to nearby towns as people join together in ways they had not done before as they voluntarily help each other recover from the devastations. Saving Kasama represents more than just the recovery of a local economy. In recent years, new generations of people had began coming to Kasama with a spirit of revitalizing declining rural regions of Japan through ceramics and related arts and crafts. In this way, saving Kasama represents hope for all of Japan to sustain strong communities, family lives and livelihoods in the country’s post-industrial age.
Cast
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Akio NUKAGA is the main character in the film and Professional potter, Kasama, who moved to Tokyo in the 1970s. He mainly makes pottery for daily life. He is the founder and leader of SKP. |
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Wataru KUNO is a Researcher at the Ibaraki Ken Kogyogijutsu Senta Yogyoshidosho (Ibaraki Prefectural Industrial Technology Center Ceramic Research Institute) who overseas students training in making ceramics. |
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Toshiyuki SAKAI is of the younger generation potter of Kasama and is rebuilding his kiln that was destroyed in the earthquake. |
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Keiko ITO is the owner of the Kuno Kiln, which is one of the oldest kilns in Kasama dating back to the Tokugawa era in the 1700s. Her family's Noborigama kiln or "Climbing Kiln" was also destroyed in the earthquake. |
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Kosho ITO is originally from Kanazawa, he is an internationally reknowned installation ceramic artist living in Kasama. He is one of the most respected potters in Kasama and is 80 years old. |
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Tomoo HAMADA is a professional potter in Mashiko, Japan, and grandson of Shoji Hamada, Japan's first living National Treasure and one of leaders of Folk At movement in Japan. Tomoo Hamada is now the head of the Mashiko Museum, which is the former residence of his grandfather. |
See the Film
Rent online or purchase the DVD!
You'll soon have the option to purchase the DVD or rent online for a limited timeframe for viewing! If you donated to the IndieGoGo campaign, we will send you an email when the DVD is ready for online rental and/or claiming your DVD copy.
For screening information, email Director Henry Mochida at henry@r3image.org.
About the Filmmakers
Mike Douglass is Professor of Urban Planning and the Executive Director of the Globalization Research Center at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. His years of living in Japan include learning pottery making in Kyoto, working for the United Nations in Nagoya, where he met his wife, Etsuko, and researching as a Visiting Scholar at Tokyo University. In recent years he has joined with Henry Mochida to teach courses on filmmaking and make films on “spaces of hope” that express our shared humanity through stories of people joining together to foster socially aware and creative lives. He and Etsuko first met Akio Nukaga when they went to Japan to meet him at his studio in 2002.
Henry Mochida is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, focusing on filmmaking for social research studies under mentor/advisor Professor Mike Douglass. This is the third film that he and Mike have partnered on together. Henry's creative background stems from being raised in a potter’s household attending craft fairs throughout Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Through the medium of cinema he has found his cause to celebrate and share the stories of community agency. He is the Founder/Executive Director of R3IMAGE, an urban planning media firm.
Etsuko Douglass worked for the United Nations Association organizing public events in support of the UN in her hometown of Nagoya, Japan. After living in several countries in Europe and Asia, she and her husband, Mike, moved to Hawai‘i where she obtained an MA degree in Art History from the University of Hawai‘i with a focus on the history of ceramic trade. Following her studies of ceramic making and becoming a member of the Hawaii Potters' Guild she began organizing specialized pottery tours for potters from Hawaii to visit important pottery areas in Japan, one of which is Kasama. She also organizes ceramic shows in Hawaii following these tours.
Film Credits
Directors Michael Douglass and Henry Mochida
Executive Producer Michael Douglass and Ron FitzGerald
Producer Etsuko Douglass
Interviewer/Translator Etsuko Douglass
Japan Liaison Katsumi Ishige
Cinematographer and Lead Editor Henry Mochida
Special Thanks Hawaii Senior Life Enrichment Association (HISLEA)
R3IMAGE
Globalization Research Center, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Support the Kasama Potters
Donate Online via Paypal
Thank you to our IndieGoGo campaign funders! Without your support, we would not have been able to finish the film and support the Kasama potters community.
With lots great energy from our IndieGoGo funders, we decided to start a second phase to further support this film and the Kasama potters community. Proceeds are shared with the Save Kasama Potters Foundation. With your support, we can help the Kasama Potters rebuild their kilns, their lives, and their craft.
See below for donation levels and perks of donation.
Clay Wedger: $20
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Kiln Loader: $50
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Bisque Firer: $100
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Glaze Maker: $300
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Fire Stoker: $500
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Donate by mail – "c/o SKP" on the memo line
If you would like to donate with a check, please send send it to our fiscal sponsor, Interisland Terminal with "c/o SKP" on the memo line and mail to the address below. You will receive a tax deductible letter from us as a confirmation that we received your donation.
SKP c/o Interisland Terminal
691 Auahi Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Press Room
Filmmakers : Mike Douglass, Henry Mochida, Etsuko Douglass (R3IMAGE)
Run Time : 25 minutes
Language : English & Japanese (with subtitles)
Format : High Definition, Surround Sound
Year : 2012
Genre : Documentary
Photos from the Film
Click on the thumbnail for high-resolution images.
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