Princess Kako visits Ishikawa Prefecture and hears about the disaster situation from lacquer artists in Wajima

Princess Kako visits Ishikawa Prefecture and hears about the disaster situation from lacquer artists in Wajima
Princess Yoshiko, the second daughter of Prince Akishino and his wife, talks with officials from the Japan Crafts Association. 3:44 p.m. on the 29th, Kanazawa City (representative photo)

On the 29th, Princess Yoshiko, the second daughter of Prince Akishino and his wife, visited the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art in Kanazawa City to view the “71st Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Kanazawa Exhibition,” sponsored by the Japan Crafts Association, of which she is president. There was also an opportunity to meet with lacquer artists from Wajima City, who were affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake in January and the record heavy rains in September.

Princess Kako was accompanied by Fumio Mae, a lacquer artist and holder of an important intangible cultural property (Living National Treasure) for “Chinkin”, Kunie Komori, a Living National Treasure for “Kyushitsu” and director of the Wajima Prefectural Wajima Lacquer Art Training Institute, and others. We had a talk. Princess Kako approached Mae, who had lost her home and workplace due to the earthquake and fire, and said, “I am sorry for your loss.”

Mr. Komori asked about the reopening of the training center this month after heavy rains occurred during recovery from the earthquake. He said he gave words of encouragement to the younger generation about passing on their skills.

Source: Japanese