Edo kiriko is the most famous glass craftwork in Japan. It was originally only produced in the city of Edo which was Tokyo's name during the Edo period (1603-1868). Kiriko means "cut glass" so its name means "cut glass from the…

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Mino ware (called Mino yaki in Japanese) is a ceramic ware produced in the Tono area of Gifu prefecture. It has maintained its long history and tradition but adapted for modern times. A notable feature of Mino ware is its wide variety of pottery. …

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Tokoname ware (tokoname yaki in Japanese) is a form of ceramic pottery that is produced in the area around the city of Tokoname in Aichi prefecture. This traditional handicraft comes from one of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan which along with Bize…

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Mino washi is a type of Japanese paper made in Gifu prefecture. Washi is made from paper mulberry which is a plant that grows in the city of Mino, a place of abundant forests. Ancient manuscripts in the Shosoin Repository* indicate the history of …

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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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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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Gifu lanterns (called Gifu chochin in Japanese) are produced in the city of Gifu, Gifu prefecture and have a history of over three hundred years. In 1995, their high level of craftsmanship was recognized with a designation as a National Traditiona…

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Ichii woodcarvings (called Ichii itto bori in Japanese) are produced in the Hida region of Gifu prefecture, and made only from the wood of ichii (Japanese yew), the prefectural tree of Gifu. The ichii tree gets its name from a scepter made of Japa…

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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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Suruga Take Sensuji Zaiku or bamboo ware are produced in the Shizuoka City area, Shizuoka Prefecture. In the basin of the upper reaches of the Abe River in Shizuoka, good quality bamboos have grown wild since ancient times, and bamboo ware has bee…

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Akazu Ware is a form of pottery produced around Akazucho in the eastern part of Seto City, Aichi Prefecture. This is one of Japan's Six Old Kilns, which began from the Heian Period until the Kamakura Period. The characteristic of Akazu Ware i…

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Hida-shunkei lacquerware is produced around the city of Takayama in Gifu prefecture. The name is said to come from the fact that the articles produced initially had a similar coloring to Hishunkei tea containers. This craft is notable for having …

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Murayama Oshima Tsumugi is a textile produced in the region surrounding Musashi Murayama City, Tokyo Prefecture. Murayama Oshima Tsumugi is a silk textile with the Tateyoko Kasuri (Kasuri patterns woven with both the warp and the weft) patterns. I…

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Suzuka inkstick is made in the city of Suzuka, Mie prefecture. This is the only inkstick brand registered as a Japanese Traditional Craft. Today, only one family, Shinseido, still preserves the tradition. Suzuka inkstick is generally made from pi…

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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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Toyohashi brushes are calligraphy brushes produced in the area centering on the city of Toyohashi in Aichi prefecture. They are known as high class brushes of the finest quality and they are preferred by many calligraphers. There is a wide range o…

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Yokkaichi banko ware (called Yokkaichi banko yaki in Japanese) is a form of ceramic ware produced in the city of Yokkaichi, Mie prefecture. For a long time, items for everyday use like teacups and plates, as well as pieces of art like vases have b…

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Edo Karakami are decorative paper products produced in the Bunkyo and Taito Wards of Tokyo, in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, and in Tokigawa Town, Hiki County, Saitama Prefecture. Designated as a traditional craft by the Japanese government in M…

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Tokyo Some Komon is a stencil dyed textile produced in the area around the Shinjuku and Setagaya Wards in Tokyo Prefecture, which was designated as a traditional national craft in 1976. The characteristics of Tokyo Some Komon are the delicacy of t…

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Edo Wazao are fishing rods produced in the Kanto region mainly in Tokyo and the Chiba and Saitama Prefectures. Edo Wazao are actually only made by craftsmen belonging to the Edo Wazao lineage, and the term Edo does not refer to the production area…

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Nagoya Yuzen is a type of dyed and painted cloth made by a range of unique traditional techniques in the Nagoya City area. Nagoya Yuzen is characterized by its designs such as monotone, color gradations, classical motifs, as well as for its quiet …

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Tama Ori are woven silk fabrics produced in the Hachioji City area of Tokyo. They are made of raw silk, dupion silk or floss silk spun into thread, and are prized for their wrinkle-resistance and gossamer lightness. From old times, Tama Ori has b…

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Iga Kumihimo are braided cords made in Mie Prefecture. Silk threads are mainly used often in combination with gold and silver threads. Iga Kumihimo hand-braided cords are well-known for their rich silk threads, dyed in a vibrant range of colors, a…

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Nagoya Butsudan refers to Buddhist altars which are produced in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture. A base of an altar usually uses Japanese cypress, zelkova, sandalwood or equivalent. It is characterized by a high platform outfitted with Mitsumakuri (…

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The Owari Shippo cloisonné produced in Ama City, Aichi Prefecture are decorated with vibrant colorful designs often depicting natural scenery or the beauty of nature. The term shippo refers to the seven jewels of Buddhism, as it was thought the cl…

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Arimatsu Narumi Shibori is a tie-dye fabric produced in the area surrounding Midori Ward in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture. Most of the tie-dye products in Japan are produced here. The tie-dye products are designated as a traditional national craft…

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Honba Kihachijo refers to silk woven fabric produced in Hachijo Island, Tokyo. The name of Kihachijo is derived from a silk fabric with stripe and check patterns mainly dyed in bright yellow called Kihachi. Patterns mainly dyed in black are called…

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The Japanese name of Ise paper stencil printing is Ise katagami, katagami meaning paper stencil, and today this craft is mostly produced in the city of Suzuka in Mie prefecture. They are a much appreciated part of textile dyeing. From the olden t…

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Mikawa Butsudan refers to Buddhist altars which are made in the Mikawa area of Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture. In the Mikawa area, the practice of placing a Buddhist altar in the closet has caused a pedestal to be lower for easier everyday service…

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Seto Sometsuke Ware is a form of porcelain produced around Seto City and Owariasahi City in Aichi Prefecture. Dyeing is generally a technique of decorating porcelain with paint, but in the case of Seto Sometsuke Ware it also includes the applicati…

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