Mashiko, Tochigi

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Location of Mashiko in Tochigi Prefecture

Mashiko (益子町, Mashiko-machi^?) is a town located in Haga District, Tochigi, Japan.

Mashiko is known for its pottery, called Mashikoyaki (益子焼). Early pottery in Mashiko dates back to the Jōmon and Yayoi periods. Mashikoyaki is often thought of as a simple and rustic in style, brown with maybe a little red glaze,but modern pottery made in Mashiko today is found in many styles, because of the creative freedom brought to Mashiko by Shoji Hamada. Modern Mashikoyaki dates only to 1853, when a potter discovered that local clay here was ideal for ceramics. The style was popularized in 1930 when Hamada, later designated as a Living National Treasure, set up a kiln in Mashiko. Hamada's student, Tatsuzo Shimaoka, was also designated as a Living National treasure and is currently working in Mashiko.

Saimyō-ji, a Buddhist temple with several important cultural relics (as designated by the national and prefectural governments), is in Mashiko.

As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 25,413 and a density of 283.82 persons per km². The total area is 89.54 km².