Mashiko ware (called Mashiko yaki in Japanese) is produced in the area around the town of Mashiko in Tochigi prefecture. The clay used in Mashiko ware is rich in silicic acid and iron with a high plasticity, making it easy to shape and highly fire…

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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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Bizen ware (called bizen yaki in Japanese) is a form of pottery produced in the area around the city of Bizen in Okayama prefecture. Bizen ware is one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns. Together with Shigaraki, Tamba, Echizen, Seto and Tokoname, B…

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Hagi ware (called Hagi yaki in Japanese) is a form of porcelain produced mainly in the town of Hagi in Yamaguchi prefecture. Hagi ware is rarely decorated, remaining as simple as possible in order to make the best use of its clay. One of Hagi war…

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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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Tsugaru lacquerware (called tsugaru nuri in Japanese) is produced around the city of Hirosaki in Aomori prefecture. Lacquerware has been produced in this region since the middle of the Edo period (1603-1868), but it began to be called Tsugaru lacq…

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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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Sekishu washi is a traditional Japanese paper produced in the Iwami region of Shimane prefecture. As an ancient craft, it has a history of around 1300 years. The name Sekishu is found in writings from the Heian period (794-1185). There is also a s…

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Akama inkstone (called Akama suzuri in Japanese) is produced around the cities of Shimonoseki and Ube in Yamaguchi prefecture. A type of stone called akama, an ideal material for producing the inkstones, is used for Akama inkstone. Therefore this …

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Inshu washi is a handmade traditional Japanese paper made in the former Inaba province, the eastern part of Tottori prefecture. The most famous type of paper is a textured drawing paper that is ideal for calligraphy and ink painting, boasting high…

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Sakai traditional blades are hammer-forged knives produced in the cities of Osaka and Sakai, Osaka prefecture. To achieve both strength and cutting quality, this craft is made by combining soft iron and steel. This craft is forged to have a sharp…

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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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Unshu abacuses (called Unshu soroban in Japanese) are produced in the town of Okuizumo, Shimane prefecture. Japanese abacuses are traditional tools that use columns lined with beads that are quickly moved with the fingers to do calculations. They …

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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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Ouchi-nuri Lacquerware is produced in the area around Yamaguchi City, in Yamaguchi Prefecture. It was named “Ouchi-nuri” as it emerged under the Ouchi clan, who boasted significant influence and power in Yamaguchi Prefecture during the Muromachi P…

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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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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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Yumihama Gasuri is a textile produced in the region surrounding Sakai Minato City, Tottori Prefecture. The origin of the name, Yumihama, was taken from Yumigahama, the name of the curved shore that stretches from Yonago City to Sakai Minato City, …

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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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Osaka Naniwa Suzuuki (Osaka Naniwa Tinware) is made from a tin alloy and produced in an area centering on Osaka City in Osaka Prefecture. In the past, tin mined in Japan was used, but nowadays tin is imported mainly from Thailand and Indonesia. T…

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Iwami Ware is a form of pottery produced around Gotsu City in Shimane Prefecture. The characteristics of Iwami Ware are its strength and low water absorbency, with a surface that is resistant to salt, acid and alkali. Large water jugs known as ha…

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Osaka Butsudan refers to Buddhist altars which are mainly produced in Osaka City, Yao City, Higashi Osaka City, Sakai City and Kishiwada City, Osaka Prefecture. Along with general urushi-painted, gold-leafed Buddhist altars, this region is also kn…

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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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Osaka Ranma are transoms produced in and around the cities of Osaka, Kishiwada and Suita in Osaka prefecture. In a Japanese house ranma, or transoms are wooden panels attached between the ceilings and the lintels of two adjoining rooms or a room a…

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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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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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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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