Kumano brushes (called Kumano fude in Japanese) are traditional craftworks produced in the city of Kumano in Hiroshima prefecture, hence the name. They are made from a wide variety of hair including goat, horse, deer, Japanese raccoon dog, weasel…

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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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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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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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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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Nara brushes are called Nara fude in Japanese. They are brushes produced in and around the city of Nara and also the city of Yamatokoriyama, in the Nara prefecture. Nara is considered to be the birthplace of brush making in Japan. The oldest brush…

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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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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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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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Fukuyama-goto are koto, a flat Japanese 13 stringed instrument with a sound box, produced in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Today, Fukuyama produces about 70% of Japanese koto, which is quite fitting as the city coastal view was the inspirat…

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Miyajima Zaiku are wooden articles made in Miyajima Town, Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Miyajima Island, one of the Three Great Sights of Japan, has long been regarded as an Island of Gods. More prosaically, Hatsukaichi City is also a co…

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Hiroshima Butsudan refers to golden Buddhist altars which are mainly produced in Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Hiroshima has always been the land where the Jodo Shinshu sect is widely worshipped since ancient times, prodding sect-recommend…

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Kawajiri brushes are called “Kawajiri fude” in Japanese. Kawajiri brushes are mainly used for calligraphy and they are produced in the town of Kawajiri in the east of the city of Kure, Hiroshima prefecture. This town, lying at the foot of Mt. Noro…

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Kebari are fly-fishing flies, and Banshu Kebari are flies produced in Nishiwaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, the former Banshu region. They are characterized by their exquisitely fine workmanship; bird feathers wound with silk thread around a small 1 c…

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Banshu Miki Uchihamono are metalwork produced around Miki City, Hyogo Prefecture. Banshu Miki Uchihamono, as well as Shinshu Uchihamono and Tosa Uchihamono, are all renowned as large craft production centers of blades in Japan using a mold forging…

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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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Toyooka Kiryu Zaiku is wickerwork produced in Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture. The origins of the craft are found in the baskets woven from Salix koriyanagi, a species of willow naturally growing in the area around the Maruyama River; in the era, w…

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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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