Yamaga toro are lanterns made of washi (traditional Japanese paper) produced in the area surrounding the city of Yamaga, Kumamoto prefecture. For the Yamaga Lantern Festival, an annual summer event, this craft is worn by one thousand dancing women…

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Yame Chochin is a lantern produced in the region surrounding Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture. The characteristics of Yame Chochin are the Takebone (bamboo frame) of the Ichijo Rasenshiki method and the Hibukuro (fire box) with beautifully painted f…

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Fukuyama-goto are koto, a flat Japanese 13 stringed instrument with a sound box, produced in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Today, Fukuyama produces about 70% of Japanese koto, which is quite fitting as the city coastal view was the inspirat…

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Nagasaki tortoise shell crafts are mostly produced in the city of Nagasaki or Isahaya in the Nagasaki prefecture. The shells used come from a type of sea turtle living around the Equator called Hawksbill turtle. During the Edo period (1603-1868), …

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