List of Traditional Crafts of Japan
The Traditional Crafts of Japan is a series of Japanese crafts specially recognized and designated as such by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in accordance with the 1974. As of 17 October 2024, 243 crafts have been so designated.
Background
As set out in Article 1 of the 1974 Act, the purpose of Traditional Craft industries and their promotion is to enrich the lives of the citizens and, due to their particular geographic nature, contribute to the development of local economies and, thereby, that of the nation as a whole. This economic angle helps distinguish the designation of Traditional Crafts under the 1974 Act from that of traditional crafts as Intangible Cultural Properties under the 1950 Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties. Financial assistance is available under both frameworks; that for Traditional Crafts focuses on five activities, namely, the training of successors, the recording of technologies and techniques, the securing of raw materials, the evolution of creative concepts and designs, and the development of demand.Trends
In FY2016, 62,690 individuals were employed in the Traditional Crafts industry, down from 288,000 in 1979, with production valued at ¥96 billion, down from ¥540 billion in 1983. Analysis by the locates these trends within the broader context of the changes in lifestyles and employment attendant upon the nation's post-war economic growth, identifying seven principal explanatory strands: displacement by highly industrialized, mass-produced—and, as a consequence, cheaper—mass market goods; the decline of rural areas and the primary industries, such as agriculture and forestry, that provide many of the materials; construction that has posed obstacles to the sourcing of materials; changes in the education system and the employment environment that discourage the necessary apprenticeships from a young age and a life of modest, manual labour; changes in lifestyle amongst consumers, with increasing urbanization and westernization; changes in attitude towards everyday items, with a move towards disposable items chosen on the basis of fashion, novelty, and price; and changes in the family system, with the nuclear family and single households militating against transmission across generations. At the same time, there are a number of possible sources of hope: the increased demand for high-quality products typically concomitant with prosperity; interest in unique, regional cultures; new appreciation of "wa" and "monozukuri", including the burgeoning of demand in the West; and a growing awareness of the benefits of a circular economy.Criteria
To be eligible for designation, as specified in Article 2 of the 1974 Act, the craft must be:- primarily for use in everyday life
- predominantly manual in its production processes
- manufactured using traditional technologies and techniques
- chiefly created using traditionally-prepared and -employed materials
- from a particular area, where a not-negligible number of persons are involved in its production
Traditional Crafts
With the designation of crafts in Chiba Prefecture and Kumamoto Prefecture in 2003, and of two craft traditions pertaining to the Ainu of Hokkaidō in 2013, at least one craft has been designated in each of the 47 prefectures. As of 26 October 2023, Tokyo has the highest number of designated crafts, followed by Kyōto Prefecture, Niigata Prefecture and Okinawa Prefecture, Aichi Prefecture, and Ishikawa Prefecture, Aomori Prefecture and Ōita Prefecture having but one apiece. The 241 designated crafts are divided into fifteen categories: woven textiles, dyed textiles, other textiles, ceramics, lacquerware, wood and bamboo, metalwork, Butsudan and Buddhist ritual implements, washi, writing tools, stonework, precious stonework, dolls and kokeshi, other, and craft materials & tools.| Craft | Prefecture | Comments | Image | Designation | Type | Ref. |
| Nambu Ironware Nanbu-tekki | ||||||
| Yamagata-imono Yamagata-imono | ||||||
| Honba Ōshima-tsumugi Honba Ōshima-tsumugi | ||||||
| Kumejima-tsumugi Kumejima-tsumugi | ||||||
| Miyako-jōfu Miyako-jōfu | ||||||
| Tsugaru Lacquerware Tsugaru-nuri | ||||||
| Aizu Lacquerware Aizu-nuri | ||||||
| Isesaki-kasuri Isesaki-kasuri | ||||||
| Kutani Ware Kutani-yaki | ||||||
| Takayama Chasen Takayama chasen | ||||||
| Inshū Washi Inshū-washi | ||||||
| Kumano Brushes Kumano-fude | ||||||
| Koishiwara Ware Koishiwara-yaki | ||||||
| Kawanabe Butsudan Kawanabe butsudan | ||||||
| Shigaraki Ware Shigaraki-yaki | ||||||
| Yumihama-gasuri Yumihama-gasuri | ||||||
| Kabazaiku Kabazaiku | ||||||
| Oitama-tsumugi Oitama-tsumugi | ||||||
| Kagawa Lacquerware Kagawa-shikki | ||||||
| Hakata Dolls Hakata-ningyō | ||||||
| Echizen Washi Echizen-washi | ||||||
| Uchiyama-gami Uchiyama-gami | ||||||
| Tokoname Ware Tokoname-yaki | ||||||
| Banshū Soroban Banshū-soroban | ||||||
| Izumo Stone Lanterns Izumo ishi-dōrō | ||||||
| Hakata-ori Hakata-ori | ||||||
| Kurume-gasuri Kurume-gasuri | ||||||
| Yomitanzan Hana-ori Yomitanzan hanaori | ||||||
| Yuntanza-minsaa Yuntanza-minsã | ||||||
| Tsuboya Ware Tsuboya-yaki | ||||||
| Kawatsura Lacquerware Kawatsura-shikki | ||||||
| Iga-kumihimo Iga-kumihimo | ||||||
| Kyō-kumihimo Kyō-kumihimo | ||||||
| Akama Inkstones Akama-suzuri | ||||||
| Awa Washi Awa-washi | ||||||
| Tobe Ware Tobe-yaki | ||||||
| Tosa Washi Tosa-washi | vid. Ino Paper Museum | |||||
| Yūki-tsumugi Yūki-tsumugi | ||||||
| Akazu Ware Akazu-yaki | ||||||
| Kyō Ware・Kiyomizu Ware Kyō-yaki・Kiyomizu-yaki | ||||||
| Yame Fukushima Butsudan Yame Fukushima butsudan | ||||||
| Kanazawa Gold Leaf Kanazawa-haku | vid. Kanazawa Yasue Gold Leaf Museum | |||||
| Kiryū-ori Kiryū-ori | ||||||
| Nara Brushes Nara-fude | ||||||
| Ōzu Washi Ōzu-washi | ||||||
| Imari Ware・Arita Ware Imari・Arita-yaki | ||||||
| Ōborisōma Ware Ōborisōma-yaki | ||||||
| Edo Kimekomi Dolls Edo Kimekomi-ningyō | ||||||
| Tamba-Tachikui Ware Mikawachi-yaki | ||||||
| Hiroshima Butsudan Hiroshima butsudan | ||||||
| Mikawachi Ware Mikawachi-yaki | ||||||
| Hasami Ware Hasami-yaki | ||||||
| Shōgawa Woodcraft Shōgawa hikimono kiji | ||||||
| Mino Ware Mino-yaki | ||||||
| Awa shōai shijira-ori Awa shōai shijira-ori | ||||||
| Kamakura-bori Kamakura-bori | ||||||
| Yokkaichi Banko Ware Yokkaichi banko-yaki | ||||||
| Mashiko Ware Mashiko-yaki | ||||||
| Kasukabe Paulownia Chests Kasukabe kiri-tansu | ||||||
| Katsuyama Bamboo Crafts Katsuyama take-zaiku | ||||||
| Beppu Bamboo Crafts Beppu take-zaiku | ||||||
| Yamagata Butsudan Yamagata butsudan | ||||||
| Izushi Ware Izushi-yaki | ||||||
| Ōdate-magewappa Ōdate-magewappa | ||||||
| Suzuka Ink Suzuka-sumi | ||||||
| Miyagi Traditional Kokeshi Miyagi dentō kokeshi | ||||||
| Iwayadō-tansu Iwayadō-tansu | ||||||
| Iga Ware Iga-yaki | ||||||
| Bizen Ware Bizen-yaki | ||||||
| Miyajima Woodwork Miyajima-zaiku | ||||||
| Ryūkyū Kasuri Ryūkyū-kasuri | ||||||
| Shuri-ori Shuri-ori | ||||||
| Agano Ware Agano-yaki | ||||||
| Ise-katagami Ise-katagami | ||||||
| Ryūkyū Bingata Ryūkyū-bingata | ||||||
| Akita Cedar Tubs and Barrels Akita sugi oke taru | ||||||
| Odawara Lacquerware Odawara-shikki | ||||||
| Hakone Yosegi-zaiku Hakone yosegi-zaiku | ||||||
| Hidehira Lacquerware Hidehira-nuri | ||||||
| Jōbōji Lacquerware Jōbōji-nuri | ||||||
| Mino Washi Mino-washi | ||||||
| Ogatsu Inkstones Ogatsu-suzuri | ||||||
| Unshū Soroban Unshū-soroban | ||||||
| Fukuyama Koto Fukuyama koto | ||||||
| Ryūkyū Lacquerware Ryūkyū-shikki | ||||||
| Echizen ware Echizen-yaki | ||||||
| Yonaguni-ori Yonaguni-ori | ||||||
| Kijōka-bashōfu Kijōka no bashōfu | ||||||
| Etchū Washi Etchū-washi | ||||||
| Karatsu Ware Karatsu-yaki | ||||||
| Yaeyama-minsaa Yaeyama-minsã | ||||||
| Yaeyama-jōfu Yaeyama-jōfu | ||||||
| Sekishū Washi Sekishū-washi | ||||||
| Ōuchi Lacquerware Ōuchi-nuri | ||||||
| Naruko Lacquerware Naruko-shikki | ||||||
| Kasama Ware Kasama-yaki | ||||||
| Aizuhongō Ware Aizuhongō-yaki | ||||||
| Iwami Ware Iwami-yaki | ||||||
| Miyakonojō Bows Miyakonojō-daikyū | ||||||
| Makabe Stone Lanterns Makabe ishi-doro | ||||||
| Tendō Shōgi-koma Tendō shōgi-koma | ||||||
| Seto-sometsuke Ware Seto-sometsuke-yaki | ||||||
| Kyō-hyōgu Kyō-hyōgu | mountings for byōbu, fusuma, makimono, &c. | |||||
| Marugame Uchiwa Fans Marugame-uchiwa | ||||||
| Tosa Forged Blades Tosa-uchihamono | ||||||
| Yame Lanterns Yame-chōchin | ||||||
| Hagi Ware Hagi-yaki | ||||||
| Satsuma Ware Satsuma-yaki | ||||||
| Bōshū Uchiwa Fans Boshu-uchiwa | ||||||
| Shōdai Ware Shōdai-yaki | ||||||
| Amakusa Pottery Amakusa-tōjiki | ||||||
| Higo Inlay Higo-zōgan | ||||||
| Ōtani Ware Ōtani-yaki | ||||||
| Okuaizu Basketry Okuaizu amikumi-zaiku | ||||||
| Kawajiri Brushes Kawajiri-fude | ||||||
| Uetsu-shinafu Uetsu-shinafu | ||||||
| Iwatsuki Dolls Iwatsuki-ningyō | vid. | |||||
| Chibana Hana-ori Chibana hanaori | ||||||
Nibutani-ita | carved wooden trays | |||||
| Nibutani-attushi Nibutani-attushi | ||||||
| Chichibu-meisen Chichibu-meisen | ||||||
| Yamaga Lanterns Yamaga-tōrō | vid., | |||||
| Sendai-tansu Sendai-tansu | ||||||
| Nagasaki Tortoiseshell Crafts Nagasaki-bekkō | ||||||
| Haebaru Hana-ori Haebaru hanaori | ||||||
| Okuaizu Shōwa Karamushi-ori Okuaizu Shōwa karamushi-ori | ||||||
| Chiba Artisan Tools Chiba kōshō-gu | ||||||
| Etchū Fukuoka Sedge Hats Etchū Fukuoka no suge-gasa | ||||||
| Sanshū Onigawara Crafts Sanshū onigawara kōgeihin | ||||||
| Nara Ink Nara-sumi | ||||||
| Sanshin Sanshin | ||||||
| Gyōda Tabi Gyōda-tabi | ||||||
| Tokyo Shamisen Tōkyō shamisen | ||||||
| Tokyo Koto Tōkyō koto | ||||||
| Edo-hyōgu Edo-hyōgu | mountings for hanging scrolls | |||||
| Tokyo Honzome Chūsen Tōkyō honzome chūsen |