Tsugaru Lacquerware (called Tsugaru Nuri in Japanese) is produced around the city of Hirosaki in Aomori prefecture. Lacquerware has been produced in this region since the middle of the Edo period (1603-1868), but it began to be called Tsugaru Lacq…

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Aizu Lacquerware (called Aizu Nuri in Japanese) is lacquerware made in the Aizu region of Fukushima prefecture. During the manufacturing process, the craft is classified into round pieces, such as bowls, and flat pieces such as trays or stationery…

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Iga Ware (called Iga Yaki in Japanese) is a form of porcelain produced in the area around the city of Iga, Mie prefecture. The main production areas of this craft are the sites of Makiyama and Marubashira in the Ayama district of Iga and the excel…

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Kyo Folding Fans (called Kyo Sensu in Japanese with sensu meaning folding fan) are mainly produced in Kyoto. From ancient times they have been valued as high quality art works because of their beautiful designs with gold or silver leaves or gold l…

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Echizen Washi is a Japanese traditional paper made in the basin of the Okafuto river of the Echizen region, Fukui prefecture. Washi is made mostly from the inner bark fibers of plants such as paper mulberry, paperbush, and ganpi. Echizen Washi fea…

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Iwayado tansu is a traditional woodwork made in the cities of Oshu and Morioka, Iwate prefecture. Tansu means chest of drawers. In addition to clothing or organization chests, daily use items like tea cabinets, book shelves, and low tables are mad…

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Takaoka Copperware (called Takaoka Doki in Japanese) is a type of copperware produced in the area around the city of Takaoka in Toyama prefecture. The various products range from small items such as indoor ornaments, Buddhist tools, and vases to l…

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Ushikubi Tsumugi is a silk textile produced in the city of Hakusan, Ishikawa prefecture. It was recognized as a traditional craft in 1988. Some distinctive features of Ushikubi (which literally translates to cow's neck) tsumugi silk are its m…

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Yamanaka Lacquerware (called Yamanaka Shikki in Japanese) is a type of lacquerware made in the Yamanaka Onsen (hot spring) district of the city of Kaga, Ishikawa prefecture. It utilizes an original Yamanaka technique for grinding wood. The main ob…

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Cherry Bark Work(called Kaba Zaiku in Japanese) are a type of wood bark craft produced in the former town of Kakunodate, Akita prefecture. While the character for kaba means birch, for this context the word refers to the bark of wild cherry trees.…

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Mikawachi Ware is a traditional porcelain produced mainly in the Mikawachi area of Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture. It is known for delicate underglaze blue decoration on white porcelain, as well as highly refined techniques such as openwork carv…

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Odate mage-wappa is a bentwood craft produced all over the city of Odate, Akita prefecture. This craft is well-known both domestically and abroad for having a beautiful curved shape and being lightweight. The key feature of Odate Bent Woodwareis t…

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Agano Ware is a traditional pottery produced mainly in the Ueno area of Fukuchi Town, Fukuoka Prefecture. Having developed as tea ware for the Japanese tea ceremony, it is known for its relatively thin, lightweight forms and refined appearance. In…

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Chichibu Meisen is a traditional silk textile produced mainly in Chichibu City and the surrounding towns of Yokoze, Ogano, Minano, and Nagatoro in Saitama Prefecture. On December 26, 2013, it was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese g…

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Inami Wood Carving is a traditional form of wood sculpture produced mainly in the Inami area of Nanto City and surrounding parts of Toyama Prefecture, including Tonami City. Craftspeople work primarily with woods such as camphor, zelkova, and paul…

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Kawatsura Lacquerware is produced mainly in Kawatsura, Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture. Traditionally, the craft has focused on practical objects for everyday use, including bowls, dishes, trays, and tiered boxes. In 1976, Kawatsura Lacquerware was …

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Otani Ware is a traditional pottery produced mainly in the Otani area of Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture. It is known for its earthy, robust character, created from iron-rich clay, and for a distinctive forming technique called nero-kuro, or the…

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Tosa Washi is a traditional Japanese paper produced mainly in Tosa City and Ino Town in Kochi Prefecture. Using plant fibers such as kozo, mitsumata, and gampi, papermakers have developed a wide variety of papers in an environment blessed with abu…

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Echizen Lacquerware is produced mainly in the Kawada area of Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture. The officially designated production area also includes Fukui City and Echizen City. On May 10, 1975, Echizen Lacquerware was designated as a Traditional Cr…

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Joboji Lacquerware is produced mainly in and around Joboji, Ninohe City, as well as in Morioka, Hachimantai, and Takizawa in Iwate Prefecture. In 1985, it was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. One of its defining chara…

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Kiso Lacquerware is produced mainly in Kiso-Hirasawa, Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture, as well as in Matsumoto City and Kiso Town. On February 17, 1975, it was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. The Kiso region has lon…

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Marugame Uchiwa are traditional hand fans produced mainly in Marugame City and the surrounding areas of Kagawa Prefecture. Fan making has long been one of the region’s representative industries, and Marugame Uchiwa were designated as a Traditional…

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Matsumoto Furniture is traditional wooden furniture produced mainly in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. On February 26, 1976, it was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. The Matsumoto region is rich in forest resources …

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Obori Soma Ware is a traditional pottery originating in the Obori area of Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture. It is especially known for three distinctive features: a fine crackle pattern known as ao-hibi, the dynamic hashiri-goma horse motif, and a…

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Ogatsu Inkstones are traditional inkstones produced mainly in the Ogatsu area of Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. They are made from a dark, hard slate known as Ogatsu stone, which artisans carefully carve and polish by hand according to the ch…

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Tsuboya Ware is a traditional pottery produced mainly in the Tsuboya district of Naha City, as well as in Yomitan and Onna in Okinawa Prefecture. Pottery is commonly called yachimun in Okinawa, and Tsuboya Ware is one of the region’s best-known ce…

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Aizu Hongo Ware is a traditional ceramic craft produced mainly in Aizumisato Town, Fukushima Prefecture. On July 2, 1993, it was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. One of the most distinctive characteristics of Aizu Hon…

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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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Boshu Uchiwa is a traditional type of hand fan produced mainly in Tateyama and Minamiboso in southern Chiba Prefecture. On March 17, 2003, it became the first craft from Chiba Prefecture to be designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese gove…

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Edo Sashimono is a traditional form of Japanese joinery produced mainly in Tokyo, particularly in areas such as Taito, Arakawa, and Koto wards. On May 14, 1997, it was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. Sashimono refers…

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