Kimura Toshiro Jin-jin (English) / Contemporary Art Center, ATM

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Workshop: Kimura Toshiro Jin-jin "Nodate" 2000

"Nodate" (pronounced "no-dah-tay") refers to a tea ceremony held in the open air.

This autumn, many such ceremonies will successively be held in various spots in the city of Mito, such as shopping streets and parks.

The artist Kimura Toshiro Jin-jin will be pulling his cart -- known as the "Yakitateki Yamucha Bimi Kamatsuki Idosha" (translated as the "Freshly-baked Pottery and Delicious Dimsum Mobile Kiln Cart") -- behind him and tour around the city. His cart will become sort of a compact, portable cafe that passersby do not just stumble upon and drop in, but can enjoy tea in tea bowls -- fresh out of the kiln -- that they have created themselves.

Not to be discriminated against on account of sex or age, the participants in the "Nodate" ceremony can paint their own favorite pictures onto unglazed pottery, and then hand over their creations to Jin-jin's cart for glazing.
It only takes around 40 minutes for the tea bowls to be completed. The participants then use their own special bowl, frshly baked in the kiln, and partake in the tea ceremony, using a whisk to stir powdered tea and drink it.
There is no need to have advance knowledge about tea etiquette.

Kimura Toshiro Jin-jin wishes to treat the relationships with people who accidentally stumble upon his "Nodate" ceremonies as "induced" relationships. He considers as very important the various types of communication that will take place there. Many factors will incite such communication: the cart, the bowls, and the artist's weird clothes and makeup.

If you happen to bump into Jin-jin's "Nodate" on the streets of Mito, gather up the courage to say something to him. While your tea bowls are baking in the kiln, enjoy your wait by drinking Japanese tea and talking with the other "customers" and Jin-jin. Take a break from your everyday routine, and spend a relaxing autumn day this way.

Days and Locations of "Nodate" 2000 Ceremony
Sept. 30 (Sat) Minami-machi 2-chome In front of TEPCO Building
Oct. 1 (Sun) Senba Park Near bronze statue of Mito Komon
Oct. 3 (Tue) Minami-machi 2-chome In front of TEPCO Building
Oct. 4 (Wed) Minami-machi 3-chome In front of the former Yamaichi Securities office
Oct. 7 (Sat) Senba Park Near bronze statue of Mito Komon
Oct. 8 (Sun) Mito Hachimangu
Oct. 9 (Mon, national holiday) ATM Outside ATM Conference Hall
Oct. 12 (Thu) Daiku-machi In front of Daiichi Parking
Oct. 14 (Sat) Howa-en
Oct. 15 (Sun) ATM ATM Plaza
There is no need to make advance reservations. Just go straight to the place where the ceremony is to be held. Time: Noon to sunset
(However, the Oct. 12 ceremony at Daiku-machi will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.)
A little rain won't stop the ceremony from being held, but if it starts to pour, the site may be changed.
Fees: ¥1,000 Making tea bowl (only 40 can be accommodated in the kiln daily, requiring 40 minutes each) ¥250 Drinking tea (plus Japanese sweets)

Profile of Kimura Toshiro Jin-jin

Born in 1967, Kimura studied pottery at the Kyoto City University of Art.
In 1995, he started his "Nodate" ceremonies, carried out yearly, focusing particularly in the Kansai area of Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe.
In 1998, he participated in the "Donai yanen! -- Et maintenant" Exhibition held at the French National High School for Art. For five weeks, then, he conducted "Nodate" ceremonies 18 times in different locations around the city of Paris.
In 1999, Kimura performed "Nodate" in Tokyo (Yanaka Cemetery, Asahi Beer headquarters, and two other locations), as well as in Aomori City. Between January and May this year, he held the CAPHOUSE exhibition in Kobe.

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