Between closedness and closeness: changing perception of the internal social dynamics of a pottery cooperative in Tachikui, Japan

In response to the recent decline of local craft industries in Japan, internationalization has been proposed as a means of expanding their regional consumer base to national and global scales. In this context, this article argues that examining the inward expansion of local social dynamics is equally crucial to understanding the resilience of local craft industries. Based on fieldwork conducted in 2018–19 in Tachikui, Hyōgo Prefecture, it examines the social dynamics of local potters in relation to the organizational framework of a cooperative association (kyōdō kumiai). The exclusive nature of their social relations, interwoven with kinship and village-wide ties, has been criticized for limiting innovation. Recently, however, it has also been seen in a positive light: the collective ability to implement outreach activities efficiently. This shows how the perceptions of the local social dynamics play an important role in shaping the sustainability narrative of the local craft industry.