Japanese craft


Traditional 'crafts' in Japan have a long tradition and history. Included in the category of traditional crafts are handicrafts produced by individual artisans or groups, as well as works created by independent studio artists working with traditional craft materials, processes, or techniques.

History

Japanese craft dates back to the earliest human settlement of the islands. Handicrafting in Japan has its roots in the rural crafts and the material-goods necessities of ancient times. Traditionally, artisans used naturally and indigenously occurring materials, and objects were created to be used, not just to be displayed. As such, the border between art and craft is not always clearly defined. Crafts were needed by all strata of society and became increasingly sophisticated in their design and execution. Craft had close ties to folk art, but developed into fine art, with a number of aesthetic schools of thought, such as, arising. Craftsmen and women therefore became artisans with increasing sophistication. However, wares were not just produced for domestic consumption, but at some point items such as ceramics made by studio craft were produced for export and became an important pillar of the economy.
Family affiliations or bloodlines are of special importance to the aristocracy and the transmission of religious beliefs in various Buddhist schools. In Buddhism, the use of the term "bloodlines" likely relates to a liquid metaphor used in the sutras: the decantation of teachings from one "dharma vessel" to another, describing the full and correct transference of doctrine from master to disciple. Similarly, in the art world, the process of passing down knowledge and experience formed the basis of familial lineages. For ceramic, metal, lacquer, and bamboo craftsmen, this acquisition of knowledge usually involved a lengthy apprenticeship with the master of the workshop, often the father of the young disciple, from one generation to the next. In this system called, traditions were passed down within a teacher-student relationship. It encompassed strict rules that had to be observed in order to enable learning and teaching of a way. The wisdom could be taught either orally, or in writing. Living in the master's household and participating in household duties, apprentices carefully observed the master, senior students, and workshop before beginning any actual training. Even in the later stages of an apprenticeship, it was common for a disciple to learn only through conscientious observation. Apprenticeship required hard work from the pupil almost every day in exchange for little or no pay. It was quite common that mastery in certain crafts were passed down within the family from one generation to the next, establishing veritable dynasties. In that case the established master's name was assumed instead of the personal one. Should there be an absence of a male heir, a relative or a student could be adopted in order to continue the line and assume the prestigious name.
With the end of the Edo period and the advent of the modern Meiji era, industrial production was introduced; western objects and styles were copied and started replacing the old. On the fine art level, patrons such as feudal lords were unable to support local artisans as much as they had done in the past. Although handmade Japanese craft was once the dominant source of objects used in daily life, modern era industrial production as well as importation from abroad sidelined it in the economy. Traditional craft began to wane, and disappeared in many areas, as tastes and production methods changed. Forms such as swordmaking became obsolete. Japanese scholar Okakura Kakuzō wrote against the fashionable primacy of western art and founded the periodical to draw attention to the issue. Specific crafts that had been practiced for centuries were increasingly under threat, while others that were more recent developments introduced from the west, such as glassmaking, saw a rise.

20th century

Although these objects were designated as National Treasures – placing them under the protection of the imperial government – it took some time for their cultural value to be fully recognized. In order to further protect traditional craft and arts, the government, in 1890, instituted the guild of Imperial Household Artists, who were specially appointed to create works of art for the Tokyo Imperial Palace and other imperial residences. These artists were considered most famous and prestigious and worked in the areas such as painting, ceramics, and lacquerware. Although this system of patronage offered them some kind of protection, craftsmen and women on the folk art level were left exposed. One reaction to this development was the – the folk art movement that developed in the late 1920s and 1930s, whose founding father was Yanagi Sōetsu. The philosophical pillar of was "hand-crafted art of ordinary people". Yanagi Sōetsu discovered beauty in everyday ordinary and utilitarian objects created by nameless and unknown craftspersons.
The Second World War left the country devastated and as a result, craft suffered. The government introduced a new program known as Living National Treasure to recognise and protect craftspeople on the fine and folk art level. Inclusion in the list came with financial support for the training of new generations of artisans so that the art forms could continue. In 1950, the national government instituted the intangible cultural properties classification, which is given to cultural property considered of high historical or artistic value in terms of the craft technique. The term refers exclusively to the human skill possessed by individuals or groups, which are indispensable in producing cultural property. It also took further steps: in 2009, for example, the government inscribed into the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists. Prefectural governments, as well as those on the municipal level, also have their own system of recognising and protecting local craft. Although the government has taken these steps, private sector artisans continue to face challenges trying to stay true to tradition whilst at the same time interpreting old forms and creating new ideas in order to survive and remain relevant to customers. They also face the dilemma of an ageing society wherein knowledge is not passed down to enough pupils of the younger generation, which means teacher-pupil relationships within families break down if a successor is not found.
As societal rules changed and became more relaxed, the traditional patriarchal system has been forced to undergo changes as well. In the past, males were predominantly the holders of "master" titles in the most prestigious crafts. Ceramist Tokuda Yasokichi IV was the first female to succeed her father, Tokuda Yasokichi III, as a master, since he did not have any sons and was unwilling to adopt a male heir. Despite modernisation and westernisation, a number of art forms still exist, partly due to their close connection to certain traditions: examples include the Japanese tea ceremony,, and to a certain degree, martial arts.
In the1950s the mayor of Gifu invited Isamu Noguchi to help revitalise the declining local Washi paper industry. The collaboration led to the artist's reinterpretation and modernisation of traditional Akari lanterns. Noguchi reimagined the lamps using wire rather than bamboo for the structure, and electric lightbulbs rather than candles. The resulting "Akari light sculptures", as the artist called them, could be easily flattened and shipped, and were an immediate commercial success in Japan and worldwide. The lamps are still handmade in Gifu by the original manufacturer, Ozeki & Co.

Contemporary practice

The Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition takes place every year with the aim of reaching out to the public. In 2015, the Museum of Arts and Design in New York exhibited a number of modern artists in an effort to introduce Japanese craft to an international audience. In 2020 the Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk "presented the kimono as a dynamic and constantly evolving icon of fashion." The show, which was described as "a revelation" and "unmissable", was subsequently displayed at the V&A Dundee.
More recent exhibitions and initiatives such as the ORIGIN of SIMPLICITY at the ADI Design Museum in Milan, Nendo sees Kyoto at the Friedman Benda gallery in New York, Distillation of Architecture at the Architectural Association in London, and the Craft x Tech Tohoku Project have set out to both preserve these unique craft traditions and bring them to a wider audience by introducing modern technologies and instigating collaborations with international artists, architects, and designers such as Kengo Kuma, Sabine Marcelis, Yoichi Ochiai, and Oki Sato. These initiatives have taken diverse approaches to the overall question of how the ancient "aesthetic sensibilities embedded in Japanese craft can be reimagined" through the lens of contemporary design and technology so that they continue to exist and remain relevant in the future.
Other initiatives and promotional activities highlighting the contemporary practice and relevance of Japanese craft traditions include collaborations with Japanese and international luxury brands, exhibitions such as international art, craft, and design fairs, and events such the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025.

Ceramics

Japanese [pottery and porcelain], one of the country's oldest art forms, dates back to the Neolithic period. Kilns have produced earthenware, pottery, stoneware, glazed pottery, glazed stoneware, porcelain, and blue-and-white ware. Japan has an exceptionally long and successful history of ceramic production. Earthenware was created as early as the Jōmon period, giving Japan one of the oldest ceramic traditions in the world. Japan is further distinguished by the unusual esteem that ceramics holds within its artistic tradition, owing to the enduring popularity of the tea ceremony.
Some of the recognised techniques of Japanese ceramic craft are:
There are many different types of Japanese ware. Those more identified as being close to the craft movement include:

Textiles

Textile crafts include silk, hemp, linen and cotton woven, dyed and embroidered into various forms—from crafts originating from folk designs to complex silk weaves intended for the upper classes.
Village crafts that evolved from ancient folk traditions also continued in the form of weaving and indigo dyeing—by the Ainu people of Hokkaidō and by other remote farming families in northern Japan.
Traditional craft textiles are typically used primarily for Japanese clothing, such as long, thin bolts of cloth used to sew kimono, and, as well as other types of kimono. Historically, these textiles would have been used to sew the . They are also used to sew, the sash worn with a kimono. Accessories such as are also commonly made from textiles such as and . Traditional footwear, such as geta, zōri and, also use textiles in the form of, the fabric thongs used to hold the shoe on the foot; some also feature brocade fabric around the body of the shoe.
The different techniques for dyeing designs onto fabric are:
Some weaving techniques are:
Amongst the more well-known regional textiles are:
  • , silk brocade using flosting yarns and gilt paper from the Nishijin district of Kyoto
  • , a variety of from Yūki, Ibaraki prefecture
  • , a variety of from Kumejima, Okinawa
  • , a dyeing techniwue from Kaga, Ishikawa prefecture
  • , a dyeing technique from Kyoto
  • , a stencil-dye technique from the Ryukyuan Islands
Other techniques include braid making, and, a form of embroidery.

Lacquerware

The art of Japanese lacquerware can be traced to prehistoric artefacts. Japanese lacquerware is most often employed on wooden objects, which receive multiple layers of refined lac juices, each of which must dry before the next is applied. These layers make a tough skin impervious to water damage and resistant to breakage, providing lightweight, easy-to-clean utensils of every sort. The decoration on such lacquers, whether carved through different-colored layers or in surface designs, applied with gold or inlaid with precious substances, has been a prized art form since the Nara period.
Items produced using lacquer are used for daily necessities like bowls and trays, but also for tea ceremony utensils such as and . Items also decorated with lacquer, and used more commonly in the past, include and.
Japanese lacquerware is closely entwined with wood and bamboo work; the base material is usually wood, but bamboo or linen can also be used.
The different techniques used in the application and decoration of lacquer are:
  • , which is the oldest and most basic decorative technique
Amongst the more well-known types of lacquerware are:
  • , lacquerware from Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture
  • , lacquerware from Tsugaru region around Hirosaki, Aomori prefecture

Wood and bamboo

Wood and bamboo have always had a place in Japanese architecture and art due to the abundance of available materials, resulting in the long tradition of Japanese carpentry. Both secular and religious buildings were and are made out of wood, as well as items used in the household, typically dishes and boxes.
Other traditions of woodwork include and the making of furniture such as. Japanese tea ceremony is closely entwined with the practices of bamboo crafts and woodwork and lacquerware.
Types of woodwork include:
Japanese bamboowork implements are produced for tea ceremonies, flower arrangement and interior goods. The types of bamboowork are:
The art of Japanese bamboo weaving in patterns such as is well known; its name is composed from the words and, referring to the pattern of holes found in, where laths woven in three directions create a pattern of trihexagonal tiling. The weaving process gives the pattern a chiral wallpaper group symmetry of p6.
Other materials such as reeds are also used in the broad category of Japanese woodwork. is a traditional form of weaving basket for cats.
Amongst the more well-known varieties of miscellaneous woodwork are:
  • , wooden marquetry from Hakone, Ashigarashimo district, and Odawara, Kanagawa prefecture
  • , wooden chests of drawers, from Oshu, Iwate prefecture

Metalwork

Early Japanese iron-working techniques date back to the 3rd to 2nd century BC. Japanese swordsmithing is of extremely high quality and greatly valued; swordsmithing in Japan originated before the 1st century BC, and reached the height of its popularity as the chief possession of warlords and samurai. Swordsmithing is considered a separate artform from iron- and metalworking, and has moved beyond the craft it once started out as.
Outside of swordsmithing, a number of items for daily use were historically made out of metal, resulting in the development of metalworking outside of the production of weaponry.
Traditional metal casting techniques include:
Smithing, the technique of shaping metal items through beating them with a hammer, is also used in traditional Japanese metalwork.
Arguably the most important Japanese metalworking technique is forge welding, the joining of two pieces of metal—typically iron and carbon steel—by heating them to a high temperature and hammering them together, or forcing them together by other means. Forge welding is commonly used to make tools such as chisels and planes. One of the most famous areas for its use of forge welding is Yoita, Nagaoka City, located in Niigata prefecture, where a technique known as is used.
To create various patterns on the surface of a piece of metal, metal carving is used to apply decorative designs. The techniques include carving, metal inlay, and embossing.
Amongst the more well-known types of Japanese metalware are:
  • , ironware from Morioka and Oshu, Iwate prefecture
  • , copperware from Takaoka, Toyama prefecture

Dolls

There are various types of traditional Japanese dolls, some representing children and babies, some representing the imperial court, warriors and heroes, fairy-tale characters, gods and demons, and also everyday people. Many types of have a long tradition and are still made today, for household shrines, formal gift-giving, or for festival celebrations such as, the doll festival, or, Children's Day. Some are manufactured as a local craft, to be purchased by pilgrims as a souvenir of a temple visit or some other trip.
There are four different basic types of doll, based on their base material:
  • Wooden dolls
  • , made out of, a substance made out of paulownia sawdust mixed with paste that creates a clay-like substance
  • , made out of papier-mache
  • , made out of ceramic
The painting or application techniques are:
One well-known type of is.

Paper making

The Japanese art of making paper from the mulberry plant called washi is thought to have begun in the 6th century. Dyeing paper with a wide variety of hues and decorating it with designs became a major preoccupation of the Heian court, and the enjoyment of beautiful paper and its use has continued thereafter, with some modern adaptations. The traditionally made paper called was especially desired for decoration, artists' papers, and elegant letter paper. Some printmakers have their own logo made into their papers, and since the Meiji period, another special application has been Western marbleized endpapers.

Other crafts

Glass

The tradition of glass production goes back as far as the Kofun period in Japan, but was used very rarely and more for decorative purposes, such as decorating some. Only relatively late in the Edo period did it experience increased popularity, and with the beginning of modernisation during the Meiji era large-scale industrial production of glassware commenced.
Despite the advent of wider industrial production, glassware continues to exist as a craft – for example, in traditions such as and. The various techniques used are:

Cloisonné

Cloisonné is a glass-like glaze that is applied to a metal framework, and then fired in a kiln. It developed especially in Owari province around Nagoya in the late Edo period and going into the Meiji era. One of the leading traditional producing companies that still exists is the Ando Cloisonné Company.
Techniques of include:
*

Gem carving

Gem carving is carving naturally patterned agate or various hard crystals into tea bowls and incense containers.

Decorative gilt or silver leaf

is a decorative technique used for paintings and Buddhist statues, which applies gold leaf, silver leaf, platinum leaf cut into geometric patterns of lines, diamonds and triangles.

Inkstone carving

Calligraphy is considered one of the classical refinements and art forms of Japan. The production of inkstones was therefore greatly valued.

Ivory carving

is the art of engraving and dyeing ivory.