Nishijin brocade (called Nishijin ori in Japanese) is woven silk produced in the northwestern part of Kyoto. Kamigyo ward and Kita ward cover this area of Kyoto today, but the name used to be Nishijin. According to official rules, only the brocade…

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Yuki tsumugi silk is produced principally in the reaches of the Kinu River that straddles the Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures. The Japanese name Yuki tsumugi comes from the name of a feudal lord during the Kamakura period (1185-1333), Yuki. Altho…

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Omi jofu is a textile produced in the region surrounding the town of Koto in Shiga prefecture. It is made with handwoven ramie threads. This craft has chic kasuri* or ikat patterns and a refreshing texture from being woven with fine ramie threads.…

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Nibutani-attoushi is a bark fiber fabric produced in the region surrounding the Biratori-cho, Saru Ward, Hokkaido. The term Nibutani originated from miputai which is an Ainu (indigenous people of north Japan) word for a place with thick vegetation…

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Kyo-ishi craft refers to stonework and precious stonework produced in and around the cities of Kyoto and Uji, in the Kyoto prefecture. Abounding in quality granite from the village of Kitashirakawa at the foot of Mt. Hiei, this well-endowed enviro…

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Makabe ishidoro is the Japanese name for Makabe stone lantern. It is a stone lantern produced around the town of Makabe in the Ibaraki prefecture. This traditional craftwork was founded during the Kamakura period (1185-1333). However the stone in…

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Okazaki stonemasonry is stone crafts including stone carved lanterns produced in the area around the city of Okazaki in the Aichi prefecture. It is made using traditional masonry skills that were found and developed in the late years of the Muroma…

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