Hyougu (art mountings) are used to set up calligraphic works and paintings into hanging scrolls, picture frames, and folding screens etc. for display and preservation. There are various types of art mountings such as hanging scrolls and scrolls, f…

View more

Edo Oshi-e, or Edo Oshi-e Embossed Fabric Pictures, are a traditional craft produced around Nihombashi and Asakusa, Tokyo from the late Edo period (1603 - 1867). Today, they are also produced in Sumida ward, Koto ward, Katsushika ward in Tokyo, as…

View more

Edo glassware is crafted in the Edogawa, Sumida, and Koto wards of Tokyo. It is also now produced in some areas of nearby Chiba prefecture, but it has been recognized as a local industry of Tokyo. This craftwork uses manufacturing methods, materia…

View more

Edo kiriko is the most famous glass craftwork in Japan. It was originally produced in the city of Edo which was Tokyo's name during the Edo period (1603-1868). Kiriko means "cut glass" so its name means "cut glass from the city…

View more

Edo karakami is a type of decorated traditional paper produced in the Bunkyo and Taito wards of Tokyo, as well as Matsudo, Chiba prefecture, and Tokigawa, Saitama prefecture. Designated as a traditional craft by the Japanese government in May 1999…

View more

Edo Bekko are fashion accessories and ornaments made from hawksbill turtle shells, produced in Bunkyo Ward, Taito Ward and Sumida Ward, Tokyo. Production of this craft started in the early Edo period. Edo Bekko is characterized by its unique sheen…

View more

Edo Kimekomi Dolls (called Edo Kimekomi ningyo in Japanese) are mainly produced in Taito, Sumida, and Arakawa wards which are located in northeastern Tokyo. The doll’s body, arms, and legs are made of toso, a modeling material made of paulownia sa…

View more

Edo Sekku Ningyo are dolls produced in 12 of the wards in Tokyo and four cities in Saitama Prefecture. They are costumed dolls, such as ichimatsu ningyo (play dolls), gosho ningyo (palace dolls) and fuzoku ningyo (dolls in period costumes), as wel…

View more

Hakata dolls (called Hakata ningyo in Japanese) are unglazed clay dolls produced in the city of Hakata, in Fukuoka prefecture. The notable features of Hakata dolls are their subtle soft colors, delicately carved expressions, and curves that almost…

View more

Iwatsuki doll (called Iwatsuki ningyo in Japanese) is a type of doll made in Iwatsuki ward, Saitama prefecture. This doll is known for its round face with big eyes, smooth and beautiful skin, and shiny human-like hair. The white skin comes from a …

View more

Izumo stone lanterns are stone lanterns produced in the city of Sakai Minato in the Tottori prefecture, and in the cities of Matsue and Izumo in the Shimane prefecture. They are made of Kimachi stone, fine-grained tuffaceous sandstone quarried fro…

View more

Makabe Ishitoro is the Japanese name for Makabe stone lanterns produced around the town of Makabe in the Ibaraki Prefecture. Production of this traditional craftwork started during the Kamakura period (1185-1333). The stone industry in the Makabe …

View more

Miyagi Kokeshi Dolls (called Miyagi Dento Kokeshi in Japanese) are wooden dolls produced in and around the cities of Sendai and Shiraishi, Miyagi prefecture. Categorized based on region into five styles including Naruko kokeshi and Togatta kokeshi…

View more

Nagoya Sekku Kazari (festival dolls and decorations) are decorations that are essential for festivals to celebrate the birth of a child and wish for the child's healthy growth. The Sekku Kazari consist of three crafts; dolls, celebratory fla…

View more

Okazaki Stonemasonry, called Okazaki Sekkouhin in Japanese, are stone crafts and gem carvings produced in the area around the city of Okazaki in Aichi prefecture. They are made using traditional masonry skills that were found and developed in the …

View more

Owari Cloisonné (called Owari Shippo in Japanese) is a type of enamelware, produced in Ama and Nagoya, Aichi prefecture, that is decorated with vibrant colorful designs often depicting natural scenery or the beauty of nature. The name shippo refer…

View more

The koto was introduced from China as an instrument for court music. Then around the 16th century, the Tsukushi Goto was made in Japan which became the base of the Japanese koto today. The koto was known familiarly as part of the Kyoto culture, b…

View more

The Tokyo Shamisen is made from the beginning to the end by one artisan. In the Kansai area, the work is divided among a number of artisans, but the Tokyo Shamisen is custom made for the musician by one artisan. It is a craft made by the artisan a…

View more

Techniques for woodblock prints were developed and refined during the Edo period (1603-1868), and Edo Woodblock Prints called Edo Mokuhanga in Japanese, contributed to spreading beautiful printed art forms such as ukiyoe (a genre of Japanese art).…

View more

Yame Lanterns (called Yame Chochin in Japanese) are a type of lantern craft produced in the region around Yame, Fukuoka prefecture. This craft has a bamboo frame and a fire box with beautifully painted flowers, birds, and plants. The bamboo frame …

View more