On December 21, a special exhibition "Kogin no Ima Exhibition" will be held at Tsugaru Shirakami Road Station (formerly Beach Nishimeya and Nishimeya Muratashiro).

This exhibition displays and sells the works and products of 40 groups of artists, materials stores, and groups using the traditional Tsugaru technique of "Tsugaru Kogin Sashi". Supervised by graphic designer and Kogin artist Masataka Yamabata.

Mr. Yamabata is from Oirase, Aomori. While studying at Hirosaki Jitsugyo High School, I learned about Tsugaru kogin sashimi, started working as a writer, and produced “Tsugaru Koginma” from “Hoshino Resorts Kai Tsugaru” (Owanimachi) and launched the website “kogin.net”. .. “This event was held because I participated in an event at Nishimeya with the introduction of Ms. Yoko Sato in May this year. It is the first time to supervise a planned exhibition,” says Yamabata.

According to Mr. Yamabata, Nishimeya is said to be the birthplace of Tsugaru kogin sashimi, and according to a survey by the old Kogin sashimi collector Akiko Ishida, all Nishimeya households had Tsugaru kogin sashimi. Mr. Yamabata smiles, "It is a miracle that we can introduce the tradition that has continued from the Edo era to a place like a sacred place for Tsugaru kogin sashimi in a new era called Reiwa." "I was surprised to hear from the villagers during the construction, saying, "If you stab this kind of sword, it's in the chest of your house."

The venue is divided into 3 corners, and in the history learning corner, there are exhibits that were unveiled from the Hirosaki Kogin Research Institute (in Fufu-cho, Hirosaki City) and the handicraft shop Tsukiya (in Dote-cho), and products that used kogin sashimi in the Taisho era. The best garment with Rin Okawa, who worked hard on development, will be exhibited.

In the works corner, in addition to works by artists working inside and outside Aomori Prefecture, Yamabata's personal collection, special shoes with a kogin stab pattern in collaboration with Mr. Takeshi Shibasaki from Aomori in the Japan national team MF are lined up. The work of the students of "Sankei Gakuen Shinyurigaoka School Kogin Design Course", which Mr. Yamabata is in charge of, will also be displayed.

In the sales corner, in addition to the original Tsugaru kogin sashimi dough and threads, bags and jackets for the Kogin sashimi Thursday party will be displayed. Mr. Yamabata shows his confidence that "rare goods are gathered together".

Mr. Yamabata said, "It's an exhibition that can only be done now, where old and new kogin gathered, and it was meaningful to be able to hold it at Nishimeya instead of Tokyo. In February, we will change the exhibited works and a tour around the authors. We are planning to shoot the exhibit, so please visit us again and again."

Holding time is from 9:00 to 16:00. free entrance. Until March 31st.