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Odate bentwood Odate mage wappa
- Wood, bamboo crafts
- Akita
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 bentwood is the b…
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Agano ware Agano yaki
- Ceramic
- Fukuoka
Agano ware (called Agano yaki) is a form of pottery produced around the town of Fukuchi in Fukuoka prefecture. Agano ware is elegant and lightweight, stemming from its development as a tea bowl for use in tea ceremonies. In some cases, the foot o…
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Chichibu-meisen silk Chichibu meisen
- Woven textiles
- Saitama
Chichibu-meisen silk is a textile produced in the city of Chichibu, Saitama prefecture. It is a plain-woven textile with both sides dyed equally because the threads will be stencil dyed. Since the textile is double-sided, it can be washed and rema…
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Kawatsura lacquerware Kawatsura shikki
- Lacquerware
- Akita
Kawatsura lacquerware (called Kawatsura shikki in Japanese) is produced in the town of Kawatsura in the southern part of Akita prefecture. Everyday use items like bowls and trays have been produced here for a long time. Kawatsura lacquerware has e…
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Otani ware Otani yaki
- Ceramic
- Tokushima
Otani ware (called Otani yaki in Japanese) is a form of ceramics that is the most famous product of the city of Naruto in Tokushima prefecture, and is the representative craft for the prefecture. The notable characteristics of Otani ware are its s…
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Joboji lacquerware Joboji nuri
- Lacquerware
- Iwate
Joboji lacquerware (called Joboji nuri in Japanese) is produced in the town of Joboji in Iwate prefecture. More than 98% of the lacquer used in Japan is imported from China or other countries. The Joboji area is known as the leading producer of do…
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Kiso lacquerware Kiso shikki
- Lacquerware
- Nagano
Kiso lacquerware (called Kiso shikki in Japanese) is produced in Kiso district, now the city of Shiojiri, Nagano prefecture. The area where this craft is produced is a plateau approximately 900 meters above sea level. The climate has cool summers…
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Matsumoto furniture Matsumoto kagu
- Wood, bamboo crafts
- Nagano
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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Obori-soma ware Obori soma yaki
- Ceramic
- Fukushima
Obori-soma ware (called Obori-soma yaki in Japanese) is a form of porcelain produced around the town of Namie in Fukushima prefecture. This craft uses blue porcelain enamel which is made from locally collected grindstone. The distinctive feature …
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Ogatsu inkstone Ogatsu suzuri
- Writing tools
- Miyagi
Ogatsu inkstone (called Ogatsu suzuri in Japanese) is a craft produced in the former town of Ogatsu (now city of Ishinomaki), Miyagi prefecture, where artisans still carefully hand carve and polish every piece. What is unique to Ogatsu inkstone i…
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Aizu-hongo ware Aizu hongo yaki
- Ceramic
- Fukushima
Aizu-hongo ware (called Aizu-hongo yaki in Japanese) is a traditional handicraft from the region of Aizu in Fukushima prefecture with a history of about four hundred years. This pottery, which is thought to have originated during the Sengoku perio…
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Beppu bamboo crafts Beppu take zaiku
- Wood, bamboo crafts
- Oita
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 fans Boshu uchiwa
- Other crafts
- Chiba
Boshu uchiwa is a type of fan made in the areas around the cities of Tateyama and Minamiboso in Chiba prefecture. This is one of Japan’s big three uchiwa types, with the other two being Marugame (Kagawa prefecture) and Kyo uchiwa (Kyoto prefecture…
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Edo wood joinery Edo sashimono
- Wood, bamboo crafts
- Tokyo
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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Hidehira lacquerware Hidehira nuri
- Lacquerware
- Iwate
Hidehira lacquerware (called Hidehira-nuri in Japanese) is produced in the area around the town of Hiraizumi, in Iwate prefecture. The defining feature of Hidehira lacquerware is the use of gold leaf produced in the area around Hiraizumi, which re…
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Iwatsuki doll Iwatsuki ningyo
- Dolls, kokeshi
- Saitama
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 …
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Kyo doll Kyo ningyo
- Dolls, kokeshi
- Kyoto
Kyo dolls (called Kyo ningyo in Japanese) are produced in the city of Kyoto and its surrounding areas in Kyoto prefecture. They are made by several different artisans with their specialized expertise. There are doll head artisans as well as those …
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Sekishu traditional Japanese paper Sekishu washi
- Traditional Japanese paper
- Shimane
Sekishu washi is a traditional Japanese paper produced in the Iwami region of Shimane prefecture. As an ancient craft, it has a history of around 1300 years. The name Sekishu is found in writings from the Heian period (794-1185). There is also a s…
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Shiozawa tsumugi silk Shiozawa tsumugi
- Woven textiles
- Niigata
Shiozawa tsumugi is a silk textile produced in the former town of Shiozawa (now a part of the city of Minamiuonuma), Niigata prefecture. The area is known for its heavy snowfall and wet winter climate which are ideal for weaving. Echigo jofu, a fa…
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Shodai ware Shodai yaki
- Ceramic
- Kumamoto
Shodai ware (called Shodai yaki in Japanese) is a form of pottery baked mainly in the northern part of Kumamoto prefecture. This craft is distinguishable because of its simple texture, strong form, and bold design, which is due to the pouring meth…
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Yamaga lanterns Yamaga toro
- Other crafts
- Kumamoto
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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Kyo uchiwa fans Kyo uchiwa
- Other crafts
- Kyoto
Kyo uchiwa are a type of fan made in Kyoto prefecture. From the many types of Japanese traditional fans, there are three broad categories: Chinese-inspired, southern-inspired, and Korean-inspired with this craft coming from the third category. Th…
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Tendo Japanese chess pieces Tendo shogi koma
- Other crafts
- Yamagata
Tendo Japanese chess pieces (called Tendo shogi koma in Japanese) are made in the cities of Tendo, Yamagata, and Murayama in Yamagata prefecture. Production is thought to have begun in Tendo back during the Edo period (1603-1868) and now the city …
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Yamagata cast iron Yamagata imono
- Metal works
- Yamagata
Yamagata cast iron (called Yamagata imono in Japanese) is produced in the city of Yamagata, Yamagata prefecture. At first, metal fittings, Buddhist statues, and daily use items were made. Then, as skills and techniques were developed, iron kettles…
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Edo glass Edo garasu
- Other crafts
- Tokyo
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…
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Unshu abacus Unshu soroban
- Writing tools
- Shimane
Unshu abacuses (called Unshu soroban in Japanese) are produced in the town of Okuizumo, Shimane prefecture. Japanese abacuses are traditional tools that use columns lined with beads that are quickly moved with the fingers to do calculations. They …
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Kiryu brocade Kiryu ori
- Woven textiles
- Gunma
Kiryu brocade (called Kiryu ori in Japanese) is a woven cloth produced in the city of Kiryu, Gunma prefecture. This area has a lush environment with excellent climate and terrain, helping it to be prosperous in the silk industry for years. Kiryu i…
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Murayama-oshima tsumugi silk Murayama oshima tsumugi
- Woven textiles
- Tokyo
Murayama oshima tsumugi is a silk textile produced in the region surrounding Musashi murayama in western Tokyo. This craft is produced from hand-spun threads pulled from dupioni silk and has kasuri patterns* woven with both warp and weft patterns.…
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Tokyo silverware Tokyo ginki
- Metal works
- Tokyo
Tokyo silverware (called Tokyo ginki in Japanese) is a form of metal handicraft produced mainly in different wards of Tokyo like Taito, Arakawa, and Bunkyo. It is a traditional craft that has been passed down from the Edo period (1603-1868), and e…
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Edo patterned paper Edo karakami
- Other crafts
- Tokyo
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…
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