Hijinowa is an important space in Mashiko Town, valued by the community for its stories and connections. It’s a place where people share their activities and build relationships. We spoke with Ms. Minoda, the representative of Hijinowa, to learn more about it.
Table of Contents
Profile of Writer
Yuki Hayase
Originally from Moka City, Tochigi Prefecture, with experience living in the U.S. and Taiwan, she is the owner of the bake shop and cafe Midnight Breakfast. Known for being the earliest to open and close in the area, the cafe serves a unique blend of American-style cookies made with locally sourced Tochigi ingredients and authentic Taiwanese milk tea. Beyond food and drinks, the cafe embodies “Local × Upcycling × Breakfast,” building community—a creative hub connecting people and ideas.
A Journey Inspired by Curiosity
Thank you for taking the time to chat with us. To start, what inspired you to move to Mashiko Town?
Originally from Kumamoto Prefecture, I first started living in Utsunomiya after getting married. At that time, I was commuting to Tokyo for work, which was challenging, so I decided to switch to freelancing. While considering relocating within the Utsunomiya area, I learned about Mashiko Town.
It didn’t have many shops back then, but it had some tourism and felt uniquely interesting. That’s why I decided to move to Mashiko.
New Bonds, New Passions
It’s true that Mashiko is an interesting place where traditional culture, like Mashiko pottery, blends with new culture. What do you find most appealing about Mashiko Town since moving here?
It’s the chance to enjoy new experiences through connections with people. When I first moved here, I didn’t interact much with others. However, the 2009 Hijisai Festival became a turning point, leading to many encounters with people I had never connected with before.
The Hijisai Festival is a Mashiko Town event where the local government and residents work together, right?
That’s right. Meeting people there sparked my interest in agriculture. Now, I rent a rice field to grow rice and grow sweet potatoes at a community farm.
A Hub for Creativity and Community
Hijinowa was started because of the Hijisai Festival, right? Can you explain what Hijinowa is?
Hijinowa Cafe & Space is a community space run by volunteers. In short, it’s a place where people can connect and bring their ideas closer to reality. It’s a venue for activities like pottery, crafts, art, agriculture, and creative expression, where people can showcase and sell their work. It also serves as a shared cafe. Like a common space, it encourages people to freely use the space and supports those who want to try new things. The second floor is now also a shared office.
What inspired the creation of Hijinowa?
As part of the Hijisai Festival, we decided to renovate an empty house and turn it into a modern art exhibition space using “earth” as a theme. We renovated a 100-year-old traditional house that had been empty for years with the help of volunteers from the local government and residents. After the exhibition, instead of leaving it empty again, the idea came up to create a space that could be freely used as an exhibition venue, something unique to Mashiko Town. That’s how “Hijinowa” was born, and it’s run by volunteers.
Spread the unique charm of Mashiko
Not only in Mashiko Town, but there’s also growing exchange with overseas, right?
Yes, that’s right. A journalist from Taiwan, Tsai Yiping, who shares information about art and crafts from Japan to Taiwan, became interested in Mashiko after reading a book and decided to visit. This led to deeper exchanges, including participation in the DAXI CRAFT WEEK in Daxi District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan.
In the future, we plan to organize study tours in Mashiko, both domestically and internationally, to spread the unique charm of Mashiko that can’t be found anywhere else.
After the Interview
My first experience selling cookies face-to-face was at Hijinowa. The members of Hijinowa, while working in their respective fields such as pottery, editing, and architecture, provide support and guidance to newcomers from both Japan and abroad through the platform of Hijinowa. It’s a place where various possibilities can come to life and offers inspiration for those looking to start something new in Mashiko.
Details:
Official Site: View Website
- Address: 1665 Mashiko, Mashiko Town, Haga District, Tochigi Prefecture
