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 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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Etchu Washi is Japanese paper made in the area around Asahi Town, Yatsuo Town, and Taira Village in Toyama Prefecture; there are three production areas, each making their own types of washi; they are Gokayama Washi, Yatsuo Washi, and Birudan Washi…

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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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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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Inami woodcarvings (called Inami chokoku in Japanese) are produced in the city of Nanto, Toyama prefecture mainly in the form of transoms*, decorative objects, and single-leaf screens**. They are usually made of Japanese camphor, paulownia, or zel…

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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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Kishu bamboo fishing rods (called Kishu herazao in Japanese) are produced in the city of Hashimoto, Wakayama prefecture for catching Japanese crucian carp. The bamboos: suzutake, madake, and yadake are cut, left to dry for several years, and only …

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Kishu lacquerware, also known as kuroe-nuri, is produced around the Kuro-e region northwest of the city of Kainan, Wakayama prefecture. This craft is simple, durable, and practical and has been popular as a household good since the Edo period (160…

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Kishu Tansu are masterpieces of traditional woodwork made in an area around Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. Kishu Tansu are so called because the manufacturing technique was established in Kishu, now the current day Wakayama Prefecture. As …

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

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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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Nagoya Kiri Tansu (paulownia chests of drawers) are masterpieces of traditional woodwork made in an area around Kasugai City and Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture. Nagoya Kiri Tansu are traditional craftwork originating from when Nagoya Castle was bu…

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Nara brushes (called Nara fude in Japanese) are brushes produced in and around the neighboring cities of Nara and Yamatokoriyama, Nara prefecture. Nara is considered to be the birthplace of brush making in Japan. The oldest existing brushes in Jap…

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Okazaki stonemasonry is stone crafts including stone carved lanterns produced in the area around the city of Okazaki in the Aichi prefecture. It is made using traditional masonry skills that were found and developed in the late years of the Muroma…

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Owari Buddhist altar equipment is made in the prefecture of Aichi. More specifically in the city of Nagoya and its suburbs, called the Owari suburbs. Owari Buddhist altar equipment was first founded as a religious craft by the missonaries of the f…

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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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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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Shogawa woodcraft is mostly woodcraft articles such as bowls or trays made in a wide area of the Toyama prefecture including the city of Takaoka and the city of Tonami. Shogawa woodcraft was registered as a traditional craft by the Ministry of Ec…

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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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Suruga Hinagu (Hina Dolls furniture) is traditional craftwork produced mainly in Sizuoka City, Kakegawa City and Yaizu City in Shizuoka Prefecture. A distinctive feature of Suruga Hinagu is that every piece of furniture, such as chests of drawers,…

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Suruga Hina Dolls are made in Shizuoka City and the surrounding area in Shizuoka. The characteristic of Suruga Hina Dolls is the size. They are bigger than other dolls because thick rice straw is used to form the body which is the center of the do…

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Suzuka inksticks (called Suzuka sumi in Japanese) are made in the city of Suzuka, Mie prefecture. This is the only inkstick craft registered as a Traditional Japanese Craft. Just one company, Shinseido, continues to produce Suzuka inksticks. This …

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Takaoka copperware (called Takaoka doki in Japanese) is a type of copperware produced in the area around the city of Takaoka in Toyama prefecture. The various products range from small items such as indoor ornaments, Buddhist tools, and vases to l…

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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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Takayama Chasen are tea whisks produced in Takayama Town, Ikoma City, Nara Prefecture; each one is completely handmade and contributes to taking a phenomenal 90% share of the Japanese tea whisk market. A tea whisk, made of bamboo, is one of the te…

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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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Toyohashi brushes are calligraphy brushes produced in the area around the city of Toyohashi, Aichi prefecture. They are known as high quality brushes and the favorite of many calligraphers. There are over a hundred types of brushes that are not on…

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