---

Tenth Anniversary Shumei Culture Prize Special Exhibition of Recipients’ Work Period: July 20 (nat'l hol.) —August 19 (Sun.) Co-sponsored by the Shumei Culture Foundation and the Miho Museum The Shumei Culture Foundation created the Shumei Culture Prize as a means of promoting art and culture. A variety of artists resident in Shiga Prefecture have been awarded the prize. In 2000, the tenth award ceremony since the prize was established in 1990 was held and 20 individuals were recognized for their achievement. As a part of this anniversary celebration, the Shumei Culture Foundation and the Miho Museum have worked together to a present a commemorative exhibition of the award winners’ works. The event works both to refocus attention on the artists and to contribute positively to the promotion of art and culture. North Wing

Shigaraki Ceramic Festival

Ceramics Festival July 20-22 (Fri.-Sun.) The Shigaraki Ceramic Festival is held annually for three days in late July. Throughout the town, ceramics markets are set up, events and exhibitions are held and many visitors make the trip to Shigaraki every year. On the last night, July 22, at The Toki shrine on a small mountain in Shigaraki torches are burned as a sacred offering in a fire festival. At the end, fireworks light up and cover nearly all of the sky. A shuttle bus will be running throughout the three day-festival from Shigaraki Station to the Miho Museum via the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park. Please make use of this convenient service.

Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park At the Ceramics Hall, contemporary ceramic works from both Japan and abroad and many works from the local area will be exhibited. At the Traditional Craft Center, booths run by area ceramicists and restaurants will be open.

Shigaraki-gu-shi Shigaraki-gu-shi were the topic of much discussion when they appeared in the newspaper on November 23, 2000. The architectural Shigaraki-gu-shi, which is estimated to have been built by Emperor Shomu from 742 to 745, stand some 95 meters tall and measure some 12 meters in width. Approximately one kilometer south on the site of the Shinmiya Shrine ruins, a nine-meter wide piece of a bridge was also excavated.

The Traditional Craft Center Located about five minutes on foot from Shigaraki Station, the hall features a permanent exhibition that allows viewers to travel through history from pottery of the distant Tenpyo Period to the Middle Ages. In addition, there are a variety of other items on display.

---