Fukui’s RENEW festival showcases traditional crafts in Tokyo preview

The General Incorporated Association SOE will host “RENEW in TOKYO 2026” on August 8‑9 at Minami Aoyama, Tokyo. The two‑day event features workshops and talks on four Fukui crafts – Echizen washi paper, Echizen chests, Echizen pottery and glasses – offering hands‑on experiences such as hand‑pulled paper, shelf‑making, pottery shaping and glass‑key‑chain design. It serves as a preview for the main “RENEW” open‑factory festival scheduled for October 9‑11 in Fukui Prefecture’s towns of Sabae, Echizen and Echizen‑cho, where local artisans open their workshops to the public.

A separate report on the 2025 edition of RENEW describes the three‑day showcase in Fukui’s traditional‑crafts corridor. Visitors explored dozens of workshops ranging from lacquerware at the historic Shurindo, hand‑pulled washi at Takisensei, to wooden bowl making at Rokurosha and furniture design at WOL. The event emphasized direct interaction with craftsmen, allowing participants to create their own items and learn the heritage behind each craft. Both articles highlight RENEW’s role in promoting regional culture, tourism and sustainable craft practices.