このように「い・ろ・は　n-ist」さん達と共に日本の伝統工芸を世界に発信する事が、正に私達が思い描いていた「知る・愉しむ~日本の器」資格制度の理想像であり、今回そんな思いが叶った事を本当に嬉しく思っています。

コンセプト：花見酒　「花・酒・器」を愛でる　～　感謝と祈りと共に

桜の花を愛でながらお弁当や酒を囲み、春の訪れを寿ぐお花見は古（いにしえ）より変わらず、日本人の大好きな風習です

全ての自然物に神が宿ると考えられていた日本の古代信仰に於いて、「サクラ」の「サ」は田の神を意味し、「クラ」はその神々の宿る台座を表わすと言われていました

田植えの時期、山の神々が里へ降りてきて田の神（サの神）となり木に宿るその木が「サクラ」

そう信じた古代の人たちは、神の宿った「サクラ」の樹の下で「これから植える稲の苗が無事に育ちますように」という祈りと共にお神酒を供えそのお下がりを神と共にいただいいた、
これが花見酒の始まりと言われています

その由来に思いを寄せれば、花見は、花を愛でると共に自然への感謝と祈りの宴であるといえましょう

また本日、日本酒をお愉しみいただく漆や焼き物の酒器も「土・石・木・太陽・火・水」これらの自然無くしては存在し得ないものです

花見にと群れつつ人の来るのみぞあたら桜のとがにはありける　（西行法師）（花見に人が大挙して押し寄せる　そのことだけが桜の罪である　ひとり静かに桜をめでたいに・・）

自然のありがたさに感謝し、いつまでも「桜のとが」を享受できる世の中でありますようにという祈りを込めて

花・酒・器を愛でる「花見酒」

日本最高峰の伝統工芸　漆器・焼き物・金工・硝子などの器を全国から集めコーディネートしましたどうぞ「日本の花見酒」をお愉しみ下さい

【企画・プロデュース】　

株式会社 AntennArt　(アンテナート)

代表取締役　西巻顕子　　　　　　
ディレクター　小松早苗

英訳：峯千晴　Chiharu Mine

◆ Introduction of Japanese sake tasting booth and traditional Japanese craft booth

We have prepared the sake tasting booth behind you. Please enjoy sake with your preference of pottery, porcelain or lacquer-ware sake cups, which are proudly presented handmade traditional Japanese crafts. We present the pottery, an art of earth and fire: Shigaraki ware. We also present the beauty of fine painting on porcelain: Imari-Nabeshima ware. Lacquer-ware is another embodiment of traditional Japanese craft. Today, we present “Wajima lacquer-ware.” The production process consists of 124 different stages. We also present innovative works of young artists who will bear the next generation, such as cups patterned with insect motifs. Please enjoy sake with your preferred sake cups. These Japanese traditional crafts are presented in the theme of “Hanamizake,” the enjoyment of cherry-blossoms, tasting sake, and appreciating sake cups with respect and prayer.” “Hanamizake” is the Japanese custom of drinking sake while enjoying cherry-blossoms. If you have any inquiries regarding sake cups, please ask the staff at the traditional Japanese craft booth. For Japanese people “Sakura,” meaning cherry-blossoms, signify the coming of spring. “Hanami,” or cherry-blossom viewing, is the custom of celebrating and admiring cherry-blossoms while enjoying a picnic meal with sake, and has been loved by Japanese people since old times. Folklorists have said, based on an ancient Japanese faith belief, that the first letters of “Sakura,” “SA,” means “Gods of rice fields,” and “KURA” represents the divine plinth in which the Gods’ spirits dwell. In the rice planting period, the Gods of the mountains descend to villages and become Gods of rice fields (Gods of “SA,”) and dwell in trees. Ancient people believed that tree is “Sakura.” So, people gathered under the Sakura tree and offered sacred sake and prayed for the safe growing of the rice before planting. After offering sake to the Gods, people enjoyed drinking that sake, as a pre-event for a bountiful harvest in autumn. “Hanami,” or cherry-blossom viewing, starts as a banquet of appreciation and prayer for nature. In old times, Japanese nobility enjoyed the “Banquet of Hanami” as a refined custom. This custom became an indispensable spring event for the common people and remains so today. Saigyo, a famous Waka (Japanese poetry) poet in the 12th century, composed Waka poetry regarding “Sakura” which says: “The sin of Sakura is in tempting many people for cherry-blossom viewing, who are so noisy while I want to enjoy quietness. The tumultuousness is the regrettable guilt of Sakura.” The sin of Sakura still continues now, as it did more than 800 years ago. “Hanami” is one of the most loving customs for Japanese people. Please enjoy the feeling of “Hanamizake” by using traditional Japanese sake cups.

Planning / Executive Producer
AntennArt inc,
Akiko Nishimaki
Sanae Komatsu