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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Ojiya chijimi textiles (called Ojiya chijimi in Japanese) is a handicraft produced from ramie in the area around the city of Ojiya in Niigata prefecture. Ramie is a tall plant of the nettle family that has been used to make cloth for centuries. R…

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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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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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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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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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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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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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Banshu abacus refers to abacuses produced in the city of Ono located in the center of Higashi Harima, in the southeast of the Hyogo prefecture. Ono is blessed with a warm climate and engaged with the abacus production during their faming off seaso…

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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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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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Tamba Tachikui Ware is a form of pottery produced around Konda in Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture. It is counted as one of Japan’s six famous ancient kilns, along with the likes of Seto Ware (from Seto City, Aichi Prefecture), Tokoname Ware (from …

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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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Izushi Ware is a form of porcelain produced in Izushicho, in Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture. Izushicho today has four potteries that are actively producing porcelain, inheriting traditions that have been handed down. The characteristic of Izushi W…

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Hon Shiozawa is a textile produced in the region surrounding Minami Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture. It is one of the textiles that represent the Shiozawa region, which is renowned for the Echigo Jofu (a linen textile produced locally). This texti…

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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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Ojiya tsumugi silk is a fabric produced in the area around the city of Ojiya, Niigata Prefecture. Ojiya is known as an area with heavy snow. Echigo jofu (a kind of linen textile) has been produced in this area for centuries. Hemp textiles were ac…

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Awa Washi is Japanese paper made in Tokushima Prefecture in Yoshinogawa City, Naka-gun, Naka-cho and Miyoshi City, Ikeda-cho. It is produced using the traditional Washi papermaking methods of nagashisuki (papermaking in flowing water), and tamesuk…

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Niigata Lacquerware is a form of lacquerware produced in the area around Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture. The characteristics of Niigata Lacquerware are its various coating techniques (such as hana-nuri, ishime-nuri, nishiki-nuri, isokusa-nuri a…

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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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KamoKiri Tansu are chests of drawers made of paulownia wood and produced in Kamo city in Niigata prefecture. Today about 70% of all paulownia chests made in Japan come from Kamo. The characteristics of KamoKiri Tansu are that they can keep clothes…

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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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Murakami Kibori Tsuishu lacquerware is produced in the area around Murakami City, in Niigata Prefecture. The Murakami region, which was formerly the Murakami Domain, has been famous for its production of natural lacquer since the Heian Period. It …

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Tsubame Tsuiki Coppereware are metalwork made in an area around Tsubame City, Niigata Prefecture. As traditional craftwork originating in the mid-Edo Period, Tsubame Tsuiki Coppereware have been produced in the form of kettles, and the like, by u…

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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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