焼き物の町・益子を歩く / Photowalking in Mashiko, an earthenware town in Tochigi

３年ぶり開催される「土祭」にあわせて、益子焼で知られる陶器の町、益子（栃木県）を訪れた。

まだ秋の訪れには早く、日中の散歩が楽しい季節。周囲の田んぼはもうすぐ収穫の時期を迎え、晩夏の花が咲き誇っていた。

子どものころによく見たディテールを切り取りながら歩く。昔ながらの普通の町を歩くのが最も楽しい。

I visited Mashiko City in Tochigi during Hijisai Festival 2015. Mashiko  is known for Mashiko yaki, which is a kind of traditional earthenware.

It was a little early to enjoy autumn, and the climate was perfect for taking a walk. The rice field surrounding the city was entering its harvest season. Late summer flowers were blossoming.

I walked capturing the details of the town, which reminds me of the time when I was a small kid. Strolling in the typical old town is very enjoyable.

クモの巣も輝くよい天気。
A spider web was shining on a sunny day.

栗が道のあちこちに落ちていた。これはお店のディスプレー。
Chestnuts were fallen everywhere. This one was a shop display, though.

ピンクの花がきれいに光る。名前は知らない。
Those flowers were beautifully illuminated. I don't know their name.

町のあちこちに陶器らしきものが。
You will see a lot of such pots on roadsides.

ウサギはお月見の準備をしていた。
Rabbits were getting ready for the harvest moon party. 

古い窯を持つ工房を見学。
An old craft center was open to public.

天気が良くて招き猫もうれしそう。ちょっと変わった奴。
This welcoming cat looked so happy with the fine weather.

店先に並ぶ焼き物たち。
The cups sold in front of a shop.

とても古いカートとちょっと古いカート。
A very old cart and a bit old cart.

本当に良い天気でよかった。
I felt so good under the sunny sky!

影が気になった。
I like the crisp shadow.

日陰も気持ちいい。
So sunny that it feels great to be in shade.

焼き物の共販センターにはのぼりがたくさん。
There were a lot of shop flags at the earthenware shopping center.

すぐに日焼けした。
I got suntanned in a moment.

今年の初コスモス。
The first photo of cosmos I took this year.

日差しを避けるご婦人たちの日傘。
Parasols were a must for ladies.

太陽もたくさん。
Lots of suns! That's why it was so hot!

こういう何気ない風景が好き。
I like this kind of ordinary scene.

白に赤と緑のアクセント。
A white bench with green and orange.

「C」
C is not for dragonflies.

トンボと遊ぶためだけにマクロレンズを持って行った。
I brought a macro lens to play with dragonflies. It worked!

もうすぐ収穫。
The harvest season was almost there.

僕とメダカ。
Me and little fish.

片手で楽して撮ったのかな。そんな影。
It looks like I hold my camera with one hand ...

アケビの実。完熟。
Akebi fruit. It must be so sweet!

何の花だろう。背景の看板のおかげでいいあんばいの配色。
What flowers are they? The color looked great on the light green shop sign.

栗、拾い放題。拾わなかったけど。
Chestnuts were everywhere!

僕の日時計。今、何時？
My solar clock. What time was it?

ケイトウの家族。
A family of flowers.

世代交代。
When sunflowers has withered, cosmos flowers come.

土祭で見かけたアートインスタレーション。「土」。
An Art installation. 土 means soil.

カワイイデザイン。
Cute designs.

さりげない陳列。益子っぽい。
Another shop display.

Photo Data
Place: 栃木・益子 / Mashiko, Tochigi
Camera: Nikon D810
Lens: SIGMA 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM