The exhibition of Mi-don's T-shirts will be held at the Ishigaki Civic Hall Exhibition Hall from 10:00 a.m. on October 14th and 15th. The venue was packed with many visitors on the 14th, making it very lively.
This is an exhibition held every two years where female craftspeople cooperate with each other, and this year marks the 15th time it has been held. It was the first time in five years since the COVID-19 pandemic, and it seems to have been a long-awaited event for both craftspeople and buyers.
"The first event was held 30 years ago at Suntopia Ishigakijima, which was run by Ishigaki City, when women working on crafts on the island gathered to set up an exhibition," says Miyoshi Nami of Ishigakijima Minamijima ware.
Looking back, people are saying that the Japanese economy has been in a slump for the past 30 years, but Midon's T-Waza Exhibition has been going on for 30 years, with each artist honing their skills every day, and has come to this day.
The exhibition appeals to visitors, "Please come and see, touch and feel the handiwork of the women who have made use of the materials," showing the confidence they have in taking their time to create the materials and their dedication to handmade products.
Women are busy with housework, child rearing, and nursing care. Even in such circumstances, it is not an easy task to find time to work on handmade crafts at one's own pace. However, by communicating with other ambitious women and encouraging each other, they have been able to continue.
There are 12 shops run by women, displaying and selling a wide variety of items, including pottery, vegetable dyeing, bingata, dyed goods, antique cloth, indigo dyeing, folk tools, Western accessories, and decorative items.
(Ryusugi group)
