KATHMANDU, May 10: The Embassy of Japan, in collaboration with the Japan Foundation, is set to host an exhibition titled ‘YAKISHIME: Earth Metamorphosis’ at the Embassy Hall in Panipokhari, Kathmandu. The exhibition aims to introduce and promote Japanese culture to the people of Nepal. Open to the general public, the exhibition will run from May 11 (Saturday) to May 30 (Thursday), welcoming visitors daily from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

According to a statement released by the Embassy, ceramics, including pottery, porcelain, and earthenware, are crafted across the globe wherever clay and wood for firing are abundant. However, the Japanese tradition of utilizing yakishime, unglazed, high-fired wares, for serving food and drink stands out as unique.

The statement reads, “The exhibition introduces yakishime ceramics, which developed in distinctive directions in Japan, as a part of Japanese traditional culture. It explores the history of yakishime, from its origins to the present, its use in tea wares and utensils for serving  food, and its emergence as objets d’art. It will offer visitors from other cultures, to whom these simple but profoundly tasteful ceramics may be unfamiliar, an excellent opportunity to experience the sensibility and aesthetic unique to Japan.”

The statement further reads, “Both Nepali and Japanese peoples hold deep reverence for traditional culture, crafts, and contemporary art.” The Embassy aspires that visitors, upon experiencing the exquisite array of yakishime wares, will gain a deeper understanding of the depth and diversity of Japanese culture, thereby enriching their cultural insights and appreciation.