Okinawa
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Nambu ironware Nambu tekki
- Metal works
- Iwate
Nambu Ironware (called Nambu tekki in Japanese) is a form of metalwork produced in Morioka City and Mizusawa, Oshu City in Iwate prefecture. It is a traditional craft that was first created in the middle of the Edo period (1603-1868). The name …
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Mashiko ware Mashiko yaki
- Ceramic
- Tochigi
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 Kumano fude
- Writing tools
- Hiroshima
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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Iwayado traditional chest Iwayado tansu
- Wood, bamboo crafts
- Iwate
Iwayado tansu is a traditional woodwork made in the cities of Oshu and Morioka, Iwate prefecture. Tansu means chest of drawers. In addition to clothing or organization chests, daily use items like tea cabinets, book shelves, and low tables are mad…
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Takaoka copperware Takaoka doki
- Metal works
- Toyama
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 wood carvings Inami chokoku
- Wood, bamboo crafts
- Toyama
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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Joboji lacquerware Joboji nuri
- Lacquerware
- Iwate
Joboji lacquerware (called Joboji nuri in Japanese) is produced in the town of Joboji in Iwate prefecture. More than 98% of the lacquer used in Japan is imported from China or other countries. The Joboji area is known as the leading producer of do…
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Tsuboya ware Tsuboya yaki
- Ceramic
- Okinawa
Tsuboya ware (called Tsuboya yaki in Japanese) is a form of pottery produced mainly in Tsuboya, city of Naha, Okinawa prefecture. This craft is one of the leading representations of Okinawan pottery (yachimun in the Okinawa dialect). The notable f…
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Beppu bamboo crafts Beppu take zaiku
- Wood, bamboo crafts
- Oita
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 …
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Hidehira lacquerware Hidehira nuri
- Lacquerware
- Iwate
Hidehira lacquerware (called Hidehira-nuri in Japanese) is produced in the area around the town of Hiraizumi, in Iwate prefecture. The defining feature of Hidehira lacquerware is the use of gold leaf produced in the area around Hiraizumi, which re…
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Miyako ramie textile Miyako jofu
- Woven textiles
- Okinawa
Miyako jofu is a textile produced on the island of Miyakojima, Okinawa prefecture. It is woven from a fabric called ramie and dyed with Ryukyu indigo, a type of indigo native to Okinawa. This textile has a fine kasuri pattern* and a smooth and lu…
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Ryukyu lacquerware Ryukyu shikki
- Lacquerware
- Okinawa
Ryukyu lacquerware (called Ryukyu shikki in Japanese) is produced in Okinawa prefecture. Lacquerware techniques imported from China were well-adapted during the development of Ryukyu lacquerware unique to Okinawa. The technology and artistry invol…
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Kumejima tsumugi silk Kumejima tsumugi
- Woven textiles
- Okinawa
Kumejima tsumugi silk is a textile produced on the island of Kumejima, Okinawa prefecture. The history of this craft goes back all the way to the Muromachi period (1336-1573). This textile is distinct because of its elegant texture and deep color …
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Tendo Japanese chess pieces Tendo shogi koma
- Other crafts
- Yamagata
Tendo Japanese chess pieces (called Tendo shogi koma in Japanese) are made in the cities of Tendo, Yamagata, and Murayama in Yamagata prefecture. Production is thought to have begun in Tendo back during the Edo period (1603-1868) and now the city …
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Yamagata cast iron Yamagata imono
- Metal works
- Yamagata
Yamagata cast iron (called Yamagata imono in Japanese) is produced in the city of Yamagata, Yamagata prefecture. At first, metal fittings, Buddhist statues, and daily use items were made. Then, as skills and techniques were developed, iron kettles…
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Ryukyu traditional resist-dyed textiles Ryukyu kasuri
- Woven textiles
- Okinawa
Ryukyu kasuri is a textile made in Okinawa prefecture. It is made mostly from silk and dyed with both plant and synthetic dyes using a kasuri* or resist-dyeing technique. This craft features over six hundred different kinds of patterns inspired by…
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Sakai cutlery Sakai uchihamono
- Metal works
- Osaka
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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Takaoka lacquerware Takaoka shikki
- Lacquerware
- Toyama
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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Nara brushes Nara fude
- Writing tools
- Nara
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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Chibana-hanaori textiles Chibana hanaori
- Woven textiles
- Okinawa
Chibana hanaori is a textile produced in Chibana, Okinawa, Okinawa prefecture. It has flowery patterns woven in the base textile as well as a continuous geometric pattern. This kind of textile with a continuous geometric pattern is called mon orim…
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Oitama tsumugi silk Oitama tsumugi
- Woven textiles
- Yamagata
Oitama tsumugi is a silk fabric produced in the Yonezawa, Hakutaka and Nagai regions of Oitama in southern Yamagata prefecture. The area was well-known for producing and exporting ramie, a tall plant of the nettle family that has been used to make…
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Osaka naniwa pewterware Osaka naniwa suzuki
- Metal works
- Osaka
Osaka naniwa pewterware (called Osaka naniwa suzuki in Japanese) is a metalwork produced in and around the city of Osaka, Osaka prefecture. In the past, tin mined in Japan was used, but today it is imported mainly from Thailand and Indonesia. This…
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Yaeyama cotton cloth Yaeyama minsa
- Woven textiles
- Okinawa
Yaeyama minsa is a fabric produced in the town of Taketomi, Yaeyama district and the city of Ishigaki, Okinawa prefecture. The origin of this craft is not clear but it is thought that the kasuri belt was brought to Okinawa from Afghanistan via Chi…
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Yaeyama ramie cloth Yaeyama jofu
- Woven textiles
- Okinawa
Yaeyama jofu is a fabric produced in the area surrounding Yaeyama ward in Ishigaki city, Okinawa prefecture. This textile is woven with hand-spun ramie threads and used to be produced as a tax to the Ryukyu Kingdom (present day Okinawa) in ancient…
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Osaka Buddhist altar Osaka butsudan
- Household Buddhist altars
- Osaka
Osaka Buddhist altars (called Osaka butsudan in Japanese) are produced in the cities of Osaka, Yao, Higashiosaka, Sakai, and Kishiwada in Osaka prefecture. Along with the standard lacquer-painted, gold-leafed altars, this region is also known for …
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Shuri brocade Shuri ori
- Woven textiles
- Okinawa
Shuri brocade (called Shuri ori in Japanese) is a woven fabric produced on the main island of Okinawa. There are two types of fabric, kasuri orimono and mon orimono, and these include hanaui, hanakura ori, doton ori, kasuri and minsa. The Ryukyu …
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Yomitanzan-hanaori textiles Yomitanzan hanaori
- Woven textiles
- Okinawa
Yomitanzan hanaori is a textile produced in the village of Yomitan, Okinawa. The threads of this craft are first dyed before being woven in a geometric, flowerlike design. This craft is woven with silk or cotton threads dyed with plant-based dyes …
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Echu traditional Japanese paper Echu washi
- Traditional Japanese paper
- Toyama
Etchu washi is traditional Japanese paper made in Asahi, Yatsuo, and Taira in Toyama prefecture. Each production area makes their own type of washi which are called Gokayama washi, Yatsuo washi, and Birudan washi. This craft has slight regional va…
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Miyakonojo archery bows Miyakonojo daikyu
- Wood, bamboo crafts
- Miyazaki
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…
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Osaka carved wooden panel Osaka ranma
- Wood, bamboo crafts
- Osaka
Osaka Transoms (called Osaka Ranma in Japanese) are transoms produced in and around the cities of Osaka, Kishiwada, and Suita in Osaka prefecture. In a Japanese-style house, transoms are wooden panels attached between the ceilings and lintels of t…
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