Machiwoaruku, setodetsunagaru (Author: Minami Mirai / Hitotsuchi Publishing)

Nice to meet you. I'm Minami Mirai, the author of "Walking the Town, Connecting in Seto" and owner of "Hitotsuchi." This book is a guidebook that uses essays to introduce Seto City, Aichi Prefecture, the city of pottery.

I'm from Seto City, and as a child I thought there was "nothing." I wanted to be a writer, so I moved to Tokyo and worked for a small publishing company in Jimbocho before going independent. I continued working as a writer for over 10 years, mainly writing for travel and local magazines and web media, before returning to my hometown.

In an effort to get to know my hometown once again, I spent four years walking around the town, listening to a wealth of stories from shop owners and people involved in pottery in the shopping district, and little by little I began to see a side of Seto that I had never known before.

In 2018, my husband opened "Masukichi - Accommodation, Cafe, Guide, Souvenirs" (formerly Guesthouse Masukichi), and we used it as our editing room to record the changing landscape of Seto.

The photos were taken by photographer Kazuki Hamazu. All of the photos were taken on film, which matches the atmosphere of the town perfectly.

Carrying this book with you might just have the effect of making shop owners feel a little more familiar and welcoming, like a pass!
It comes with a walking map, so please come and visit us.

[table of contents]

Introduction Seto, the city of pottery

Chapter 1: Walking through the bustling shopping district

Seto concentration 120%! Miyamae Underground Mall
Exciting and thrilling Seto Ginza Shopping Street
Seto Suehirocho Shopping Street, frequented by craftspeople

Chapter 2: A base for connecting with the town

talo-K / Art Space & Cafe barrack / TREVIANVEGAN / Cafe NISSIN / Books・Hitoshizuku / FUN / SETO GINZA / [Extra Edition] Taneri Studio
Manga: A Day in Seto...Shitaryou

Chapter 3: Deliciousness attracts people

Custard Shop Uoko / Smoke Log House Tenyu / aime le pain / Kawamuraya Kaei /
UNKNOWN COFFEE / Tori Shizuka

Chapter 4: Ceramics and Everything

Visiting the clay mines
A super specialty store that supports the region

Get closer to pottery
Shinano, where pottery factories are concentrated
Head to Akatsu, the home of pottery

Final Chapter: Masukichi, my base
After the shoot...Kazuyuki Hamatsu

[specification]

Title: Walking around the town, connecting with Seto
Author: Minami Mirai
Price: 1,700 yen + tax
Size: B6 Number of pages: 160
Publisher: Minami Shintaro
Photo: Kazuki Hamazu
Design and binding: Shino Ando (Koyurugi Design)
Editing assistance: Jinmu Haruna

[About the author and photographer]

Minami Miku
Born in Seto City in 1984. Writer. After working at a small publishing company in Jimbocho, Tokyo, he went independent as a writer. He loves traveling and chatting leisurely with people he meets on the streets of the world. He launched "Hitotsuchi Publishing" as a label to release his own books. He currently sells souvenirs at the souvenir shop "Hitotsuchi" while promoting Seto craftsmanship. He also runs the Seto City information website " Hoyahoya ."

Waki Hamatsu
Born in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, and currently living in Tokyo. Grew up in Gunma and Kochi for 10 years each, before moving to the United States in 2003. Returned to Japan in 2009. After working in a studio in Tokyo, he became independent as a freelance photographer in 2012. With the theme of beauty in everyday life, he continues to photograph the activities of people working, eating, dressing, playing music, and traveling, as well as the scenes that arise from them. In 2021, he released the photo book "MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD."