Kutani ware (called Kutani yaki in Japanese) is a type of pottery manufactured in and around the city of Kaga in Ishikawa prefecture. It is a traditional handicraft that was first produced during the early Edo period (beginning of the 17th century…

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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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Edo kiriko is the most famous glass craftwork in Japan. It was originally produced in the city of Edo which was Tokyo's name during the Edo period (1603-1868). Kiriko means "cut glass" so its name means "cut glass from the city…

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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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Wajima lacquerware (called Wajima nuri in Japanese) is made in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture. The most notable features of Wajima lacquerware are not only its beautiful finish but also the high quality powder used for its production call…

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Kaga textiles (called Kaga yuzen in Japanese) are kimonos produced around the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa prefecture. This craft is noteworthy because of its use of five underlying tones: indigo, khaki, green, dark reddish purple, and deep red. Kyo…

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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 this area is called Nishijin. According to official rules, only the brocade…

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Yuki tsumugi silk is produced principally in the reaches of the Kinugawa River that straddles the Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures. The Japanese name Yuki tsumugi comes from the name of a feudal lord during the Kamakura period (1185-1333), Yuki. Al…

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Kasama ware (called Kasami yaki in Japanese) is a form of porcelain produced in the area around the city of Kasama in Ibaraki prefecture. This porcelain has long been considered a traditional souvenir of visiting Kasama Inari shrine (one of Japan&…

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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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Ojiya chijimi textiles (called Ojiya chijimi in Japanese) is a handicraft produced from ramie in the area around the city of Ojiya in Niigata prefecture. Ramie is a tall plant of the nettle family that has been used to make cloth for centuries. R…

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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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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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Ushikubi tsumugi is a silk textile produced in the city of Hakusan, Ishikawa prefecture. It was recognized as a traditional craft in 1988. Some distinctive features of Ushikubi (which literally translates to cow's neck) tsumugi silk are its m…

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Yamanaka lacquerware (called Yamanaka shikki in Japanese) is a type of lacquerware made in the Yamanaka Onsen (hot spring) district of the city of Kaga, Ishikawa prefecture. It utilizes an original Yamanaka technique for grinding wood. The main ob…

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Chichibu-meisen silk is a textile produced in the city of Chichibu, Saitama prefecture. It is a plain-woven textile with both sides dyed equally because the threads will be stencil dyed. Since the textile is double-sided, it can be washed and rema…

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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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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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Boshu uchiwa is a type of fan made in the areas around the cities of Tateyama and Minamiboso in Chiba prefecture. This is one of Japan’s big three uchiwa types, with the other two being Marugame (Kagawa prefecture) and Kyo uchiwa (Kyoto prefecture…

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Edo sashimono is a type of wood joinery made in Tokyo with hand-cut dovetail joints and without nails. The word sashimono comes from the process of measuring with a monosashi or woodwork ruler. This craft is characterized by its restrained ornamen…

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Iwatsuki doll (called Iwatsuki ningyo in Japanese) is a type of doll made in Iwatsuki ward, Saitama prefecture. This doll is known for its round face with big eyes, smooth and beautiful skin, and shiny human-like hair. The white skin comes from a …

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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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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 (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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Shiozawa tsumugi is a silk textile produced in the former town of Shiozawa (now a part of the city of Minamiuonuma), Niigata prefecture. The area is known for its heavy snowfall and wet winter climate which are ideal for weaving. Echigo jofu, a fa…

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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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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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Edo glassware is crafted in the Edogawa, Sumida, and Koto wards of Tokyo. It is also now produced in some areas of nearby Chiba prefecture, but it has been recognized as a local industry of Tokyo. This craftwork uses manufacturing methods, materia…

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