Agano ware (called Agano yaki) is a form of pottery produced around the town of Fukuchi in Fukuoka prefecture. Agano ware is elegant and lightweight, stemming from its development as a tea bowl for use in tea ceremonies. In some cases, the foot o…

View more

Amakusa ware (called Amakusa Tojiki in Japanese) is a form of pottery or porcelain baked in the Amakusa region of Kumamoto prefecture. The name was newly applied when the craft was designated as a national traditional craft. In Amakusa, where high…

View more

Awa washi is traditional Japanese paper made in Yoshinogawa, Naka-cho, and Ikeda-cho in Tokushima prefecture. It is produced using the traditional papermaking methods of nagashisuki (papermaking in flowing water), and tamesuki (papermaking using s…

View more

Awa Shoai Shijira Ori is a cotton textile produced in Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture. Shijira Ori had been produced in Awa since the 18th century, and the Shijira Ori dyed with Awa indigo was referred to as Awa Shoai Shijira Ori. It was desi…

View more

Beppu take-zaiku are bamboo crafts produced in the city of Beppu, Oita prefecture mainly from odake bamboo* grown and harvested locally. This craft is entirely handmade and uses a distinctive range of basic weaving techniques. It is also the only …

View more

Hakata ori refers to the ori or woven cloth produced in and around Hakata, Fukuoka prefecture. Hakata weaving techniques, which originated in China, have shaped this unique cloth. It has been highly regarded for its high quality throughout the age…

View more

Hakata dolls (called Hakata ningyo in Japanese) are unglazed clay dolls produced in the city of Hakata, in Fukuoka prefecture. The notable features of Hakata dolls are their subtle soft colors, delicately carved expressions, and curves that almost…

View more

Hasami ware (called Hasami yaki in Japanese) is a form of porcelain produced in Hasami in Nagasaki prefecture. It is a traditional handicraft that was first produced in the latter part of the Sengoku period (1467-1603) and remains popular today as…

View more

Higo Zogan is inlaid metal work produced in Kumamoto, Kumamoto prefecture. This craft was formerly used to adorn the gun barrels or sword guards of samurai. Today, however, the skills are used to make personal accessories or interior ornaments. Th…

View more

Honba Oshima Tsumugi is a fabric made on the island of Amami, Kagoshima prefecture. It is one hundred percent plain silk that has been dyed and made on handlooms like shime-bata or te-bata. This textile has deep, muted tones as it is dyed with ye…

View more

Imari ware and Arita ware are both porcelain produced around the town of Arita, in the Saga prefecture. Imari ware and Arita ware are light and delicate and both have excellent durability because their porcelain is produced from porcelain stone. T…

View more

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…

View more

Kagawa lacquerware (called Kagawa shikki in Japanese) is produced in the area around the city of Takamatsu, Kagawa prefecture. There is a wide range of products, such as cake boxes, trays, low tables, and display cases, which are widely popular fo…

View more

Karatsu ware (called Karatsu yaki) is a form of porcelain produced in the Saga and Nagasaki prefectures. This traditional craft has been produced since the 16th century in various forms, including tea bowls. One of the most notable features of Kar…

View more

Kawanabe Buddhist Altars (called Kawanabe Butsudan in Japanese) are made in the Kawanabe area of Minamikyushu, Kagoshima prefecture. There is a specific type of altar called gamado that is unique to this craft. Gama means cave in the Kagoshima dia…

View more

Koishiwara ware (called Koishiwara yaki in Japanese) is a form of pottery produced in the Asakura district of Fukuoka prefecture. Since its creation, Koishiwara ware has evolved to become a practical, beautiful pottery. Koishiwara ware's uniq…

View more

Kurume traditional resist-dyed textiles (Kurume gasuri in Japanese) is a woven cloth produced in and around the city of Kurume, Fukuoka prefecture. The breathability assures coolness in the summer and excellent heat-retaining properties provide wa…

View more

Marugame uchiwa are a type of fan made in the area around the city of Marugame, Kagawa prefecture. It is believed that, in the early Edo period (1603-1868), the first Marugame uchiwa were made as souvenirs for pilgrims to the Konpira Shrine. The o…

View more

Mikawachi ware (called Mikawachi yaki in Japanese) is a form of porcelain produced around the city of Sasebo, in Nagasaki prefecture. Mikawachi ware has long been regarded as a high-class item due to its simple yet eyecatching blue dye on white po…

View more

Miyakonojo Bows (called Miyakonojo Daikyu in Japanese) are bamboo archery bows produced in Miyakonojo, Miyazaki prefecture. The Miyakonojo area is known for growing high quality bamboo and has produced a variety of weapons like wooden swords as w…

View more

Nagasaki tortoise shell crafts called Nagasaki Bekko in Japanese, are mostly produced in the city of Nagasaki or Isahaya in the Nagasaki prefecture. The shells used come from a type of sea turtle living around the Equator called Hawksbill turtle. …

View more

Nara Ink, called Nara Sumi in Japanese, is Japanese ink (sumi) produced in Nara, Nara prefecture. It was the second sumi, following Suzuka Sumi of Mie prefecture, to be designated as a traditional craft. There are two types of sumi; shoenboku, mad…

View more

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…

View more

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…

View more

Ozu traditional Japanese paper (called Ozu washi in Japanese) is a handmade paper made in the town of Uchiko, Ehime prefecture. The history of papermaking of Ozu washi dates back to the Heian period (794-1185), and the current style of Ozu washi e…

View more

Satsuma ware (called satsuma yaki in Japanese) is a form of porcelain produced in Kagoshima prefecture. There are three types of Satsuma ware: white, black, and porcelain. Then there are six categories: tateno, ryumonji, naeshirogawa, nishimochida…

View more

Shodai ware (called Shodai yaki in Japanese) is a form of pottery baked mainly in the northern part of Kumamoto prefecture. This craft is distinguishable because of its simple texture, strong form, and bold design, which is due to the pouring meth…

View more

Takayama Tea Whisks, called Takayama Chasen in Japanese, are tea whisks produced in Takayama Town, Ikoma City, Nara Prefecture. Each tea whisk is completely made by hand and they have a top class share in the total Japanese tea whisk market. The t…

View more

Tobe ware (called Tobe yaki in Japanese) is a form of ceramic ware produced around the town of Tobe in Iyo district of Ehime prefecture. Production began in the middle of the Edo period (1603-1868) and it was registered as a traditional craft by t…

View more

Tosa cutlery (called Tosa uchihamono in Japanese) are hammer-forged blades produced in the eastern to central part of Kochi prefecture, including the town of Ino and the cities of Kami, Nankoku, Tosa, and Susaki. Kochi prefecture was once a provin…

View more