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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Beppu take-zaiku are bamboo crafts produced in the city of Beppu, Oita prefecture mainly from odake bamboo* grown and harvested locally. This craft is entirely handmade and uses a distinctive range of basic weaving techniques. It is also the only …

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Miyakonojo Daikyu are bamboo bows produced in Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture. The Miyakonojo City area is known as a place where good quality bamboo grows. In olden times, in addition to the making of bows, the area produced a variety of wea…

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Miyajima Zaiku are wooden articles made in Miyajima Town, Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Miyajima Island, one of the Three Great Sights of Japan, has long been regarded as an Island of Gods. More prosaically, Hatsukaichi City is also a co…

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Okuaizu Amikumi Zaiku is basketry produced in the Mishima Town area, Onuma County, Fukushima Prefecture. This mountainous area in the Okuaizu region has much snow and during winter farmers are unable to work in the fields; as handwork in the snowy…

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Zogan means inlay and Higo Zogan is inlaid metal work produced in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture. This craft was formerly used to adorn the gun barrels or sword guards of samurai; today, however, the skills of those more martial times are tran…

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