Moon Beach stages annual pottery extravaganza

The pottery fair takes place in the Exhibition Hall of the Moon beach Hotel in Onna.

The pottery fair takes place in the Exhibition Hall of the Moon beach Hotel in Onna.

One of the largest annual pottery fairs on the island, the three-day 23rd All Okinawa Yachimun Market at Hotel Moon Beach, takes place from Saturday through Monday. Monday is a Japanese national holiday in exchange for Spring Equinox Day “Sunbun-no-hI” falling this year on Sunday.

The Moon Beach Inner Exhibition Hall is an established venue to purchase quality ceramic products at prices that everyone can afford. This year, 51 pottery studios from various parts of the island will bring their products to the fair. During the fair, people can purchase pottery products at bargain prices, of course, and there are also some experience events and the mini music live show.

In addition, local products, such as seafood, agricultural produce and processed foods from Onna Village are also on sale. Restaurants in the hotel offer a special lunch menu during the fair.

The market runs Saturday through Monday and is open from 10:00 to 20:00 Saturday and Sunday, and to 19:00 on Monday.

Okinawan ceramics are highly regarded among local products. Local craftsmen themselves are present at the fair to introduce the charms of their art cultivated over centuries in a unique Okinawa tradition.

Ceramics fans will gather to Onna Village from across Okinawa and even from the mainland, in order to make discoveries and hunt bargains on this annual market. Organizers say the event has grown to about as big as it can get, given the number of professional craftsmen and the number of kilns on the island.

During the fair visitors can try their own hand in making pottery at a potter’s wheel experience booth from 11:00 to 17:00 on each day. Another booth offer shisa coloring during the same hours, and local pottery artisans even stage a mini live concert on Saturday and Sunday from 14:00 to 15:00 to show that their creativity expends well beyond the realm of clay.

00:58 29 Mar , 2024