Shigaraki ware (called Shigaraki yaki in Japanese) is a type of pottery made around the town of Shigaraki in Shiga prefecture. Clays such as kibushi, mizuchi, or gairome are kneaded to make a strong clay that can be used to make thick and large p…

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Nishijin brocade (called Nishijin ori in Japanese) is woven silk produced in the northwestern part of Kyoto. Kamigyo ward and Kita ward cover this area of Kyoto today, but the name used to be Nishijin. According to official rules, only the brocade…

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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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Kamakura-bori is a type of lacquer ware made in the area around the city of Kamakura in Kanagawa prefecture. The tradition dates back to the Kamakura period (1185-1333) when Tsuishu and Tsuikoku, thickly lacquered wooden wares, were imported from …

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Hakone yosegi zaiku is a form of marquetry produced in the town of Hakone, Kanagawa prefecture, an area renowned for having the most natural environment in Japan. For this reason, there is a rich variety of tree species found on Mt. Hakone. Such a…

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Kyo textiles are dyed textiles made throughout Kyoto prefecture that feature a wide range of vivid colors and a technique of pictorial designs of animals, nature and daily items called yuzenmoyo. The dyeing method is very unique as artisans put gl…

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Aizu lacquerware (called Aizu nuri in Japanese) is lacquerware made in the Aizu region of Fukushima prefecture. During the manufacturing process, the craft is classified into round pieces, such as bowls, and flat pieces such as trays or stationery…

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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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Kyo folding fans (called Kyo sensu in Japanese with sensu meaning folding fan) are mainly produced in Kyoto. From ancient times they have been valued as high quality art works because of their beautiful designs with gold or silver leaves or gold l…

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Obori-soma ware (called Obori-soma yaki in Japanese) is a form of porcelain produced around the town of Namie in Fukushima prefecture. This craft uses blue porcelain enamel which is made from locally collected grindstone. The distinctive feature …

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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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Aizu-hongo ware (called Aizu-hongo yaki in Japanese) is a traditional handicraft from the region of Aizu in Fukushima prefecture with a history of about four hundred years. This pottery, which is thought to have originated during the Sengoku perio…

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Kyo dolls (called Kyo ningyo in Japanese) are produced in the city of Kyoto and its surrounding areas in Kyoto prefecture. They are made by several different artisans with their specialized expertise. There are doll head artisans as well as those …

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Kyo uchiwa are a type of fan made in Kyoto prefecture. From the many types of Japanese traditional fans, there are three broad categories: Chinese-inspired, southern-inspired, and Korean-inspired with this craft coming from the third category. Th…

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Omi Jofu is a textile produced in the region surrounding Aichi Gun in Koto, Shiga Prefecture. The textile is made with the hemp threads from the Choma (ramie). The threads are shredded and joined by hand. This process is referred to as the Teumi. …

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Kishu Lacquerware, also known as Kuroe-nuri, is produced around the Kuro-e region northwest of Kainan City, in Wakayama Prefecture . The characteristics of Kishu Lacquerware are its simplicity, durability, and practicality. Kishu Lacquerware artic…

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Kyo-ware/Kiyomizu-ware are ceramics and porcelain produced in the Kyoto area. Originally, Kyo-ware was a general term for all pottery produced in Kyoto, while Kiyomizu-ware referred to pottery produced on the road leading to the Kiyomizu temple. K…

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Kishu Herazao are bamboo fishing rods produced in Hashimoto City, Wakayama Prefecture and are for catching herabuna, the Japanese crucian carp. Koya-chiku, madake, and yadake bamboos are cut, left to dry for several years and then carefully assess…

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Kyo Shikki is a form of lacquer ware produced in the Kyoto area. Since it advanced at the same time as the culture of tea ceremonies, Kyo Ware possesses the inner beauty known as wabi sabi. The characteristic of Kyo Ware is its wood grain, which i…

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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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