Stoke to Japan: Pottery Tours Spark Global Interest

Yuri Kawakami-Shotton is receiving recognition for her remarkable efforts in showcasing Stoke-on-Trent to an international audience, specifically from Japan. Running Peak and Pottery Tours at the Spode Museum, she introduces the unique heritage of the Potteries to overseas visitors.

Inspired by reports of struggling pottery firms, Kawakami-Shotton saw an opportunity to boost interest, noting that Japanese consumers would appreciate the craftsmanship. Her tours have successfully promoted English dinner sets, which have become a sought-after item in Japan. Museum manager Michael Escolme highlighted her invaluable contribution to expanding the museum's reach.

Kawakami-Shotton also directs visitors to The Rabbit Hole Tea Room. In a significant event last year, the cafe took its afternoon tea offerings to Japan, a venture that resulted in an extraordinary increase in scone sales, escalating from hundreds to two thousand per day during a pop-up in Tokyo.