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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Arimatsu Narumi Shibori is a tie-dye fabric produced in the area surrounding Nagoya, Aichi prefecture. Many of the tie-dye products in Japan are produced here. The tie-dye products are designated as a traditional national craft. Arimatsu Narumi Sh…

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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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Chiba Artisan Tools are cutlery and hand tools made in the Boso Peninsula of Chiba prefecture, using traditional techniques. Their main products are sickles, hoes, knives and western style scissors. As iron sand was mined in the Boso Peninsula fr…

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Chibana hanaori is a textile produced in Chibana, Okinawa, Okinawa prefecture. It has flowery patterns woven in the base textile as well as a continuous geometric pattern. This kind of textile with a continuous geometric pattern is called mon orim…

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Haebaru flower patterned textiles called Haebaru Hanaori in Japanese, are made in the city of Haebaru in the Okinawa Prefecture. Plants harvested in the prefecture such as garcinia or Assam indigo are used to dye the yarns. Haebaru Hanaori can be …

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Iga Braided Cords, called Iga Kumihimo in Japanese, are made in Mie prefecture. Mainly silk threads are used, often in combination with gold and silver threads. This craft is known for rich silk threads, being dyed in a vibrant range of colors, an…

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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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The Japanese name of Ise Paper Stencil Printing is Ise Katagami. Katagami means paper stencil. Today this craft is mostly produced in the city of Suzuka in Mie prefecture. They are an important part of textile dyeing. For many years, such stencils…

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Isesaki Kasuri is a type of woven fabric produced in Isesaki, Gunma prefecture. Mainly used for kimono, this fabric has been admired for its texture since ancient times. Today, neckties and shop curtains called noren in Japanese are also produced.…

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Kijoka no Bashofu are a woven cloth produced in Kijoka, Ogimi Village in northern Okinawa. Bashofu is made from the fibers of the Japanese banana plant called Basho, and has been used to make kimonos in Okinawa since ancient times. Kijoka no Basho…

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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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Kumejima tsumugi silk is a textile produced on the island of Kumejima, Okinawa prefecture. The history of this craft goes back all the way to the Muromachi period (1336-1573). This textile is distinct because of its elegant texture and deep color …

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Mikawa Buddhist Altars, called Mikawa Butsudan in Japanese, are made in the Mikawa area of Okazaki, Aichi prefecture. In the region, as it was a custom to place a Buddhist altar in the closet, there were demands to make the pedestal of the altar l…

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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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Nagoya Buddhist Altars (called Nagoya Butsudan in Japanese) are produced around the city of Nagoya, Aichi prefecture. Usually high grade trees such as Japanese cypress, zelkova, or sandalwood are used for the base. Nagoya Buddhist Altars have a hi…

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Nagoya Sekku Kazari (festival dolls and decorations) are decorations that are essential for festivals to celebrate the birth of a child and wish for the child's healthy growth. The Sekku Kazari consist of three crafts; dolls, celebratory fla…

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Nagoya Kuromontsuki Zome is a dyed and woven textile produced in the region surrounding Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture. Kuromontsuki is a kimono worn at weddings or funerals and it has been popular since the Edo period (1603 - 1868) in Nagoya among…

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Nagoya yuzen is a cloth that is dyed and painted through a range of traditional techniques that are unique to the city of Nagoya, Aichi prefecture. The designs used for this craft range from monochromatic, color gradation, or classical motifs, but…

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Nagoya traditional paulownia chests of drawers called Nagoya Kiri Tansu in Japanese, are masterpieces of traditional woodwork made in and around Kasugai City and Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture. Nagoya Kiri Tansu are a traditional craftwork originat…

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Okazaki Stonemasonry, called Okazaki Sekkouhin in Japanese, are stone crafts and gem carvings produced in the area around the city of Okazaki in Aichi prefecture. They are made using traditional masonry skills that were found and developed in the …

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Owari Buddhist altar equipment is made in Nagoya and neighboring cities in Aichi prefecture called the Owari suburbs. Owari Buddhist altar equipment was first founded as a religious craft by the missionaries of the forefather of the Jodo-shinshu s…

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Owari Cloisonné (called Owari Shippo in Japanese) is a type of enamelware, produced in Ama and Nagoya, Aichi prefecture, that is decorated with vibrant colorful designs often depicting natural scenery or the beauty of nature. The name shippo refer…

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Ryukyu lacquerware (called Ryukyu shikki in Japanese) is produced in Okinawa prefecture. Lacquerware techniques imported from China were well-adapted during the development of Ryukyu lacquerware unique to Okinawa. The technology and artistry invol…

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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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Ryukyu Bingata is a dyed and woven textile produced around Shuri, Okinawa prefecture. Its origin goes back to the 14th to 15th century. The ladies of the royal family or the families of the warrior class wore Ryukyu Bingata. There are two kinds of…

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Sanshin is a musical instrument produced around Naha of Okinawa prefecture. It is used for Kumiodori, which is a theatrical art listed on the UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Ryukyu opera, Okinawa&…

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Sanshu Onigawara Crafts, called Sanshu Onigawara Kougeihin in Japanese, are a traditional craft mainly produced in Hekinan, Anjo and Takahama of Aichi Prefecture. The name "Sanshu" comes from the old name of this region in Aichi. The reg…

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Seto Sometsuke ware (called Seto Sometsuke yaki in Japanese) is ceramic ware produced near the cities of Seto and Owariasahi in Aichi prefecture. The term sometsuke is normally used when designs are painted on porcelain with an indigo blue pigment…

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Shuri brocade (called Shuri ori in Japanese) is a woven fabric produced on the main island of Okinawa. There are two types of fabric, kasuri orimono and mon orimono, and these include hanaui, hanakura ori, doton ori, kasuri and minsa. The Ryukyu …

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