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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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…

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Kaba cherrybark woodcrafts (called Kaba zaiku in Japanese) are a type of wood bark craft produced in the former town of Kakunodate, Akita prefecture. While the character for kaba means birch, for this context the word refers to the bark of wild ch…

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Odate mage-wappa is a bentwood craft produced all over the city of Odate, Akita prefecture. This craft is well-known both domestically and abroad for having a beautiful curved shape and being lightweight. The key feature of Odate bentwood is the b…

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Kawatsura lacquerware (called Kawatsura shikki in Japanese) is produced in the town of Kawatsura in the southern part of Akita prefecture. Everyday use items like bowls and trays have been produced here for a long time. Kawatsura lacquerware has e…

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Ogatsu inkstone (called Ogatsu suzuri in Japanese) is a craft produced in the former town of Ogatsu (now city of Ishinomaki), Miyagi prefecture, where artisans still carefully hand carve and polish every piece. What is unique to Ogatsu inkstone i…

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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 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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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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Naruko lacquerware (called Naruko shikki in Japanese) is a form of lacquerware produced around the city of Osaki, Miyagi prefecture. Lacquerware is a craft coating layers of lacquer on wooden tableware and other utensils. Lacquerware is produced i…

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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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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…

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Miyagi Kokeshi Dolls (called Miyagi Dento Kokeshi in Japanese) are wooden dolls produced in and around the cities of Sendai and Shiraishi, Miyagi prefecture. Categorized based on region into five styles including Naruko kokeshi and Togatta kokeshi…

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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 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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Katsuyama Take Zaiku are bamboo baskets produced in Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture. Bamboo ware products are made in many areas across Japan from a variety of bamboos such as thick stemmed bamboo and black bamboo. However, Japanese timber bamboo …

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Osaka Karaki Wood Joinery, called Osaka Karaki Sashimono in Japanese, are wooden articles manufactured in several cities of Osaka Prefecture. Karaki is wood from trees mainly grown in Southeast Asia, and include rosewood, ebony, Chinese quince, an…

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Akita-sugi Oke Taru are handmade Akita cedar tubs and barrels produced from locally grown cedar timber in the cities of Odate and Noshiro of Akita Prefecture since around the late Heian period (11th century). Products made of straight grain wood w…

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Suruga Hina Dolls are dolls made in and around Shizuoka City in Shizuoka. Suruga Hina Dolls are larger than other dolls as thick rice straw is used to form the body which is the center of the doll. It is said that rice straw was used because Shizu…

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Osaka Kongo Sudare are bamboo blinds produced in the cities of Tondabayashi and Kawachi-Nagano in Osaka Prefecture. Tondabayashi City lies at the foot of Mt. Kongo, the highest mountain in Osaka, and good quality Japanese timber bamboo growing nat…

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Osaka Senshu Kiri Tansu are wooden chests of drawers made in and around Kishiwada City and Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture. They are made from Paulownia wood, much appreciated for its durability, excellent moisture barrier properties and fire resista…

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Suruga Hinagu (Hina Doll accessories) are a traditional craft produced mainly in Shizuoka 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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Naniwa Honzome Hand Dyeing is a traditional Japanese dyeing method, of which products are mainly produced in Sakai and Kashiwara, Osaka Prefecture. Osaka was a large producing center of Japanese hand towels called tenugui since the Edo period (160…

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Sendai tansu is a type of chest of drawers made in the city of Sendai, Miyagi prefecture. Usually they are made of Japanese chestnut, cedar, and zelkova wood, and renowned for their highly ornamented iron fittings and three different types of beau…

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