【Activity report】 For International Students 「Fukui Traditional Industry Experience Class ( five workshops ) 」

International Center of the University of Fukui has been holding a “Fukui Traditional Industry Experience Class (five workshops)” for international students as an opportunity to experience traditional industries and crafts in Fukui.

The 1^st workshop called “Let’s make a pen stand while learning the art of making Echizen tansu.” was held on Friday, January 22 at the Bunkyo campus. In total 10 international students from 7 countries participated.

We invited OYANAGI Norikazu, a craftsman of Echizen Tansu Oyanagi Studio, as a lecturer to explain the history and techniques of Echizen tansu, and the international students manufactured their own pen stand that make use of the techniques of Echizen tansu. All the participants looked satisfied with the unique design of their own pen stand. At the end of the event, they had a chance to actually touch some Echizen tansu, and everyone was especially interested in “Karakuri(trick) tansu”.

The 2^nd workshop called “Let’s try E-tsuke (drawing) Workshop with the Echizen lacquer artisans” was held on Friday, February 12 at the Bunkyo campus. In total 10 international students from 5 countries participated.

We invited SUKEDA Mikio, a Makieshi (gold lacquer master) of Echizen Urushi-no-Sato Kaikan, as a lecturer, and the international students painted the materials such as bowls and hand mirrors with cashew paint with the draft made in advance. They struggled with a thin paint brush, but all of them concentrated deeply as if they almost forgot to breathe. The participants who were scheduled to return to their countries in March, seemed to be filled with emotion as they painted pictures of Echizen narcissuses and dinosaurs on their materials to remember their time in Fukui.

We are planning to visit the Fukui Prefectural Museum of Ceramics, Takefu Knife Village and the Papyrus House of Echizen Washi Village in March. We hope that the international students will deepen their understanding of Fukui’s traditional culture and industry and that they will become attached to Fukui through this class.

（Schedule）
◆E-tsuke(Drawing) workshop (One-day bus trip)
Date：March 4th (THU)
Destination：Fukui Prefectural Museum of Ceramics
（120－61 Ozowara, Echizen Town, Fukui 916-0273）
※Application has been closed.

◆Papermaking workshop (One-day bus trip)
Date：March 10th (WED)
Destination：Papyrus House of Echizen Washi Village
（8-44 Shinzaike-cho, Echizen City, Fukui 915-0232）
※Application has been closed.

◆Metal keychain making workshop (One-day bus trip)
Date：March 18th (THU)
Destination：Takefu Knife Village
（22-91, Yokawa, Echizen City, Fukui, 915-0031）
Application ：Please go to the link below and complete the application form by 12:00 on March 5^th.
https://forms.gle/FjFQUMZpAvbBPsur5