Hakone yosegi zaiku is a form of marquetry produced in the town of Hakone, Kanagawa prefecture, an area renowned for having the most natural environment in Japan. For this reason, there is a rich variety of tree species found on Mt. Hakone. Such a…

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Matsumoto kagu is a type of Japanese traditional furniture made in the city of Matsumoto in Nagano prefecture and has been produced for over three hundred years, since the Edo period (1603-1868). The Second World War led production of this craft t…

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Edo sashimono is a type of wood joinery made in Tokyo with hand-cut dovetail joints and without nails. The word sashimono comes from the process of measuring with a monosashi or woodwork ruler. This craft is characterized by its restrained ornamen…

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Edo wazao are fishing rods that are produced in the Kanto region, mainly Tokyo and the prefectures of Chiba and Saitama. This craft is named after the Edo lineage of the craftsmen and not the production area of Edo (now Tokyo). It is made from sev…

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KamoKiri Tansu are chests of drawers made of paulownia wood and produced in Kamo city in Niigata prefecture. Today about 70% of all paulownia chests made in Japan come from Kamo. The characteristics of KamoKiri Tansu are that they can keep clothes…

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Echizen Tansu are lacquer coated chests of drawers made in an area around Echizen City and Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture; they are mainly made of Japanese zelkova and paulownia, and decorated with iron fittings. Japanese zelkova, is a hard wood, w…

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Kasukabe Kiri-tansu (paulownia chests of drawers) are masterpieces of traditional woodwork made in an area around Saitama City and Kasukabe City, Saitama Prefecture. The paulownia used to make Kasukabe Kiri-tansu has excellent moisture-barrier an…

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Toyooka Kiryu Zaiku is wickerwork produced in Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture. The origins of the craft are found in the baskets woven from Salix koriyanagi, a species of willow naturally growing in the area around the Maruyama River; in the era, w…

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Nagiso Rokuro Zaiku are completely handmade woodwork items made in the area around Nagiso Town, Kiso-gun, Nagano Prefecture. This traditional craftwork originated in the first half of the 18th century and is known for a special skilled manufacturi…

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