Okayama University Fuses Traditional Craft with Digital Innovation for Bizen Ware

Exploring the Future of Bizen Ware at Okayama University

On November 25, 2025, Okayama University hosted a groundbreaking workshop titled "Creating the Future of Traditional Crafts through Web3" at its Tsushima campus. This event, focused on the fusion of Bizen pottery with modern digital technologies, was co-hosted by the Okayama Digital Innovation Creation Platform (OI-Start) and attracted around 20 participants, including students, university staff, corporations, and local designers from Okayama Prefectural University.

The workshop kicked off with an engaging presentation by Professor Hino Kawashima from Toita Women's Junior College. She shed light on innovative approaches that integrate Bizen pottery with next-gen technologies such as web3 and NFTs. Participants were surprised and excited to see how the age-old craft of Bizen ware could benefit from and merge into the digital landscape, creating a warm atmosphere of anticipation and creativity.

Facilitation of group discussions was led by Fumiki Otomi, Executive Director of WTS, a startup from Kanagawa University specializing in Bizen ware branding. His deep understanding of local culture combined with practical business insights encouraged lively interactions among participants, fostering rich exchanges of ideas.

During the workshop, attendees broke into three groups to brainstorm how Bizen DAO could be leveraged to elevate the craft's future. Bold ideas surfaced, including a proposal to completely transition Bizen ware into a DAO structure, local workshops categorized by "ceramic skill level," and a concept to establish a certification akin to a “Bizen Ware Sommelier” to conduct popularity polls via DAO.

Also proposed were initiatives like the 'My Bowl Story' project, where elementary students would visit pottery studios to create their bowls, which they would use in school lunches until graduation. This project aimed to archive the stories of the children and their bowls through NFTs, linking personal growth with the narrative of the crafted item.

Another innovative idea emerged regarding broken bowls. The 'Magic Bowl' concept would provide options for remaking broken items into accessories or possibly re-engaging technology through pottery experiences, saving repair histories on the blockchain.

Additional intriguing discussions included online exchanges with international fans, collaborative projects between students and potters, expressing the appeal of works as