Embedded within Japan's demographic and economic stagnation, traditional craftsmanship unexpectedly aligns with the discourse of creativity. This study delves into the intricacies of this convergence through ethnographic details, shedding light on how endeavours to preserve local crafts intertwine with the burgeoning discourse of creativity within public policy frameworks, thereby shaping a nuanced understanding of craftsmanship. The study draws on fieldwork conducted in 2018‐19 in Tamba Sasayama, Japan, focusing on the participation of Tamba potters in a regional revitalization initiative promoting the slogan of rural creativity. Initially, promotional activities were perceived as distractions hindering their ability to maintain the pace of their work, such as monitoring the changing state of the clay through various stages of the craft (i.e. throwing, drying, and firing), an aspect they considered fundamental to craftsmanship. However, the growing acknowledgement of public support accompanying their engagement prompted a reassessment, transforming distraction into a skill emblematic of flexible ‘disengagement’. The analysis of disengagement as a new virtue of craftsmanship reveals the pragmatic approach the potters uphold and the creative trajectory of traditional craftsmanship amidst the demographic crisis.

中文翻译：

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创意时代的手工艺：脱离参与成为日本传统陶艺家的新工艺模式


在日本的人口和经济停滞中，传统工艺出乎意料地与创造力的话语保持一致。本研究通过人种学细节深入探讨了这种融合的复杂性，揭示了保护当地手工艺的努力如何与公共政策框架内新兴的创意话语交织在一起，从而塑造对手工艺的细致入微的理解。该研究借鉴了 2018-19 年在日本丹波筱山进行的实地调查，重点是丹波陶艺家参与一项促进农村创意口号的区域振兴计划。最初，促销活动被视为分散注意力的活动，阻碍了他们保持工作节奏的能力，例如在工艺的各个阶段（即投掷、干燥和烧制）监控粘土状态的变化，他们认为这是工艺的基础。然而，随着公众对他们的参与，人们越来越认可公众的支持，这促使他们重新评估，将分心转变为灵活“脱离接触”的象征技能。将脱离参与作为手工艺的新美德的分析揭示了陶艺家所坚持的务实方法以及传统手工艺在人口危机中的创作轨迹。