Gifu Chochin are traditional Japanese lanterns produced mainly in Gifu City, Yamagata City, Mizuho City, and Ginan Town in Gifu Prefecture. On April 5, 1995, they were designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. One of their def…

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Hidehira Lacquerware is produced in several parts of Iwate Prefecture, including Ichinoseki, Oshu, Hiraizumi, Morioka, Hanamaki, and Takizawa. On May 22, 1985, it was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. One of the defini…

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Iwatsuki Ningyo is a traditional Japanese doll craft produced mainly in Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture. On March 9, 2007, it was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. Iwatsuki Ningyo are often characterized by rounded fa…

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Kagawa Lacquerware is produced mainly in and around Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture. A wide variety of objects are made, ranging from everyday items such as bowls, trays, tea saucers, and confectionery containers to decorative furnishings and wo…

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Kyo Ningyo are traditional dolls produced mainly in Kyoto City, as well as in Uji, Kameoka, and Yawata in Kyoto Prefecture. On March 2, 1986, they were designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. One of the defining characterist…

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Miyako Jofu is a textile produced on the island of Miyakojima, Okinawa prefecture. It is woven from a fabric called ramie and dyed with Ryukyu indigo, a type of indigo native to Okinawa. This textile has a fine kasuri pattern* and a smooth and lu…

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Ryukyu Lacquerware is produced in several parts of Okinawa Prefecture, including Naha, Urasoe, Itoman, Okinawa City, Tomigusuku, Nakagusuku, and Haebaru. On March 12, 1986, it was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. One …

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Sekishu Washi is a traditional Japanese paper produced mainly in Hamada and Gotsu in the Iwami region of Shimane Prefecture. On April 11, 1989, it was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. The principal raw materials are k…

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Shiozawa Tsumugi is a traditional silk textile produced mainly in Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture. On February 17, 1975, it was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. The Shiozawa region has long been known for Echigo…

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Shodai Ware is a traditional form of pottery produced mainly around Mount Shodai in northern Kumamoto Prefecture. Its principal production areas include Arao, Kumamoto, Uki, Nankan, and Nagasu. On March 17, 2003, it was designated as a Traditional…

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Yamaga Toro is a traditional washi paper craft produced in Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture. On December 26, 2013, it was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. Its most distinctive characteristic is that highly intricate t…

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Akama Suzuri is a traditional inkstone produced mainly in Shimonoseki and Ube in Yamaguchi Prefecture. On December 15, 1976, it was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. The inkstones are made from Akama stone, a fine-grai…

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Echizen Ware is a traditional type of pottery produced mainly in Echizen Town, as well as in other parts of Fukui Prefecture including Fukui City, Echizen City, Awara City, and Wakasa Town. On March 12, 1986, it was designated as a Traditional Cra…

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Ichii Itto Bori is a traditional woodcarving craft produced mainly in Takayama, Hida, and Gero in Gifu Prefecture. On May 10, 1975, it was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. The craft uses ichii, or Japanese yew, which …

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Kumejima Tsumugi is a traditional silk textile produced in Kumejima Town, Okinawa Prefecture. On February 17, 1975, it was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. Its traditional production techniques were further designated …

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Kyo Uchiwa are traditional Japanese hand fans produced mainly in Kyoto City and Nantan City, Kyoto Prefecture. On October 14, 1977, they were designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. Their defining feature is the sashi-e cons…

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Tendo Shogi Koma are traditional Japanese chess pieces produced mainly in Tendo, Yamagata, and Murayama in Yamagata Prefecture. On April 8, 1996, they were designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. Their defining characteristi…

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Yamagata Imono is a traditional metal-casting craft produced in Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture. On February 17, 1975, it was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. The local casting industry includes both craft castings…

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Edo Glass is a traditional glassmaking craft produced mainly in Sumida, Koto, and Edogawa wards and other parts of Tokyo. It was designated as a Traditional Craft of Tokyo in 2002 and as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government on November 2…

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Inshu Washi is a traditional Japanese paper produced mainly in the Aoya and Saji areas of Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture. On May 10, 1975, it was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. The principal raw materials are kozo…

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Omi Jofu is a textile produced in the region surrounding the town of Koto in Shiga prefecture. It is made with handwoven ramie threads. This craft has chic kasuri* or ikat patterns and a refreshing texture from being woven with fine ramie threads.…

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Ryukyu Kasuri is a textile made in Okinawa prefecture. It is made mostly from silk and dyed with both plant and synthetic dyes using a kasuri* or resist-dyeing technique. This craft features over six hundred different kinds of patterns inspired by…

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Sakai Uchihamono are traditional forged blades, including kitchen knives and scissors, produced mainly in Sakai and Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture. On March 5, 1982, they were designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. A defining …

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Suruga bamboo ware (called Suruga take sensuji zaiku in Japanese) is produced in the city of Shizuoka, Shizuoka prefecture. High quality bamboo has grown wild in the basin of the upper reaches of the Abe River in Shizuoka since ancient times. Bamb…

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Takaoka Lacquerware (called Takaoka Shikki in Japanese) is produced in the area around the city of Takaoka, in Toyama prefecture. A defining feature of this lacquerware is the wide range of techniques and styles. Aogai-nuri is a technique that use…

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Unshu Soroban is a traditional Japanese abacus produced mainly in Okuizumo, Nita District, Shimane Prefecture. It was designated a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government in 1985. Materials such as ebony, birch, and boxwood are used for the …

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Wakasa Nuri is a traditional form of lacquerware produced mainly in Obama City, Fukui Prefecture. On February 6, 1978, it was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. Its most distinctive feature is the creation of patterns us…

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Akazu Ware (called Akazu Yaki in Japanese) is a form of pottery produced around Akazucho in the eastern part of the city of Seto, Aichi prefecture. This craft is a type of Seto ware, one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns. Together with Bizen, Tamb…

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Banshu Abacuses (called Banshu Soroban in Japanese) are produced in the city of Ono, Hyogo prefecture. Ono, an agricultural area blessed with a warm climate, started abacus production during its off-season. Japanese abacuses are traditional tools…

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Hida Shunkei is a traditional lacquerware craft produced mainly in Takayama and Hida in Gifu Prefecture. On February 17, 1975, it was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government. Its defining characteristic is the use of transpar…

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