Design Products Map

Traditional Japanese Handcrafts Map

Superb crafts and craft-making techniques firmly built upon traditions and refined over many generations, enchant people and serve as a country's intangible cultural assets. Such techniques however do not just adhere to original traditions; they continue to evolve as they pass through each generation. Flowing through these techniques are the Japanese spirit and willingness to enthusiastically embrace foreign cultures, along with pride in craftsmanship and dedication to precision. This culture of Japanese craftsmanship - which is alive even in today's globalized internet society - helps distinguish Japan's arts and crafts.

This page will showcase some of the country's time-honored crafts-making techniques, products and artisans that designated by Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Design Products Map by Prefecture

Contact: Some of the companies may not have any English-speaking personnel. Information and images provided by courtesy of Japanese Traditional Craft Center.

Tohoku Region

Aomori
Tsugaru Lacquer Ware (Lacquer)

Iwate
Hidehira Lacquer Ware (Lacquer) Joboji Lacquer Ware (Lacquer) Iwayado Chests (Wood) Nambu Cast Ironwork (Metal)

Miyagi
Naruko Lacquer Ware (Lacquer) Ogatsu Inkstones (Stationary) Miyagi Kokeshi Dolls (Dolls)

Akita
Kawatsura Lacquer Ware (Lacquer) Akita Cherry-Bark Work (Wood) Odate Bentwood Work (Wood) Akita Cedar Cooperage (Wood)

Yamagata
Oitama Pongee (Weaving) Yamagata Metal Casting (Metal) Yamagata Household Buddhist Altars (Buddhist Altars and Accessories) Tendo Japanese Chess Pieces (Miscellaneous Crafts)

Fukushima
Obori Soma Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Aizu Hongo Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Aizu Lacquer Ware (Lacquer) Okuaizu Basketry (Wood)

Kanto Region

Ibaraki
Yuki Pongee (Weaving) Kasama Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Makabe Stone Lanterns (Stone)

Tochigi
Yuki Pongee (Weaving) Mashiko Ware (Pottery and Porcelain)

Gunma
Isezaki Ikat (Weaving) Kiryu Textiles (Weaving)

Saitama
Kasukabe Paulownia Chests (Wood) Edo Art Dolls (Dolls)

Chiba
Boshu Rigid Fans (Miscellaneous Crafts)

Tokyo
Murayama Oshima Fabrics (Weaving) Kihachijo Fabrics (Weaving) Tama Fabrics (Weaving) Tokyo Fine-Pattern Dyeing (Dyeing) Tokyo Yuzen Dyeing (Dyeing) Edo Joinery (Wood) Edo Fishing Rods (Bamboo) Tokyo Silversmithery (Metal) Edo Art Dolls (Dolls) Edo Decorative Papers (Miscellaneous Crafts) Edo Cut Glass (Miscellaneous Crafts)

Kanagawa
Kamakura Carved and Lacquered Ware (Lacquer) Odawara Lacquer Ware (Lacquer) Hakone Wood Mosaic Work (Wood)

Hokuriku-Koshin Region

Niigata
Shiozawa Pongee (Weaving) Shiozawa Fabrics (Weaving) Ojiya Ramie Crepe (Weaving) Ojiya Pongee (Weaving) Tokamachi Ikat (Weaving) Tokamachi Akashi Crepe (Weaving) Murakami Carved and Lacquered Ware (Lacquer) Niigata Lacquer Ware (Lacquer) Kamo Paulowina Chests (Wood) Tsubame Beaten Copperware (Metal) Echigo Yoita Forged Blades (Metal) Niigata Shirone Household Buddhist Altars (Buddhist Altars and Accessories) Sanjo Household Buddhist Altars (Buddhist Altars and Accessories) Nagaoka Household Buddhist Altars (Buddhist Altars and Accessories)

Yamanashi
Koshu Crystal Carving (Stone) Koshu Lacquered Deerhide (Miscellaneous Crafts) Koshu Seals (Miscellaneous Crafts)

Nagano
Shinshu Pongee (Weaving) Kiso Lacquer Ware (Lacquer) Matsumoto Furniture (Wood) Nagiso Turnery (Wood) Shinshu Forged Blades (Metal) Iiyama Household Buddhist Altars (Buddhist Altars and Accessories) Uchiyama Paper (Paper)

Toyama
Takaoka Lacquer Ware (Lacquer) Inami Woodcarving (Wood) Takaoka Bronze Casting (Metal) Etchu Paper (Paper) Shogawa Turnery (Craft Materials)

Ishikawa
Ushikubi Pongee (Weaving) Kaga Yuzen Dyeing (Dyeing) Kaga Embroidery (Other Fiber Crafts) Kutani Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Wajima Lacquer Ware (Lacquer) Yamanaka Lacquer Ware (Lacquer) Kanazawa Lacquer Ware (Lacquer) Kanazawa Household Buddhist Altars (Buddhist Altars and Accessories) Nanao Household Buddhist Altars (Buddhist Altars and Accessories) Kanazawa Gold Leaf (Craft Materials)

Tokai Region

Shizuoka
Suruga Bamboo Ware (Bamboo) Suruga Hina Doll Fittings (Dolls) Suruga Hina Dolls (Dolls)

Gifu
Mino Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Hida Shunkei Lacquer Ware (Lacquer) Ichii Woodcarving (Wood) Mino Paper (Paper) Gifu Lanterns (Miscellaneous Crafts)

Aichi
Arimatsu Narumi Shibori (Dyeing ) Nagoya Yuzen Dyeing (Dyeing) Nagoya Black Dyeing (Dyeing) Tokoname Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Akazu Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Seto Underglazed Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Nagoya Paulownia Chests (Wood) Nagoya Household Buddhist Altars (Buddhist Altars and Accessories) Mikawa Household Buddhist Altars (Buddhist Altars and Accessories) Toyohashi Brushes (Stationary) Okazaki Stone Carving (Stone) Owari Cloisonne (Miscellaneous Crafts)

Mie
Iga Kumihimo Braids (Other Fiber Crafts) Yokaichi Banko Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Iga Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Suzuka Sumi Ink Sticks (Stationary) Ise Paper Stencils (Craft Materials)

Kinki Region

Fukui
Echizen Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Echizen Lacquer Ware (Lacquer) Wakasa Lacquer Ware (Lacquer) Echizen Forged Blades (Metal) Echizen Paper (Paper) Wakasa Agate Work (Stone)

Shiga
Omi Ramie (Weaving) Shigaraki Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Hikone Household Buddhist Altars (Buddhist Altars and Accessories)

Kyoto
Nishijin Textiles (Weaving) Kyoto Kanoko Shibori (Dyeing) Kyoto Yuzen Dyeing (Dyeing) Kyoto Fine-Pattern Dyeing (Dyeing) Kyoto Black Dyeing (Dyeing) Kyoto Embroidery (Other Fiber Crafts) Kyoto Kumihimo Braids (Other Fiber Crafts) Kyoto-Kiyomizu Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Kyoto Lacquer Ware (Lacquer) Kyoto Joinery (Wood) Kyoto Household Buddhist Altars (Buddhist Altars and Accessories) Kyoto Buddhist Paraphernalia (Buddhist Altars and Accessories) Kyoto Stone Carving (Stone) Kyoto Art Dolls (Dolls) Kyoto Folding Fans (Miscellaneous Crafts) Kyoto Round Fans (Miscellaneous Crafts) Kyoto Art Mountings (Miscellaneous Crafts)

Osaka
Osaka Transoms (Wood) Osaka Fine Cabinetry (Wood) Osaka Senshu Paulownia Chests (Wood) Osaka Kongo Bamboo Blinds (Bamboo) Sakai Forged Blades (Metal) Osaka Naniwa Pewter Ware (Metal) Osaka Household Buddhist Altars (Buddhist Altars and Accessories)

Hyogo
Tamba Tachikui Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Izushi Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Toyooka Willow Basketry (Wood) Banshu Miki Forged Blades (Metal) Banshu Abacus (Stationary) Banshu Fishing Flies (Miscellaneous Crafts)

Nara
Takayama Tea Whisks (Bamboo) Nara Brushes (Stationary)

Wakayama
Kishu Lacquer Ware (Lacquer) Kishu Paulownia Chests (Wood)

Chugoku Region

Tottori
Yumihama Ikat (Weaving) Inshu Paper (Paper) Izumo Stone Lanterns (Stone)

Shimane
Iwami Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Sekishu Paper (Paper) Unshu Abacus (Stationary) Izumo Stone Lanterns (Stone)

Okayama
Bizen Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Katsuyama Bamboo Basketry (Bamboo)

Hiroshima
Miyajima Woodwork (Wood) Hiroshima Household Buddhist Altars (Buddhist Altars and Accessories) Kumano Brushes (Stationary) Kawajiri Brushes (Stationary) Fukuyama Koto (Miscellaneous Crafts)

Yamaguchi
Hagi Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Ouchi Lacquer Ware (Lacquer) Akama Inkstones (Stationary)

Shikoku Region

Tokushima
Awa Indigo Cotton (Weaving) Otani Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Awa Paper (Paper)

Kagawa
Kagawa Lacquer Ware (Lacquer) Marugame Round Fans (Miscellaneous Crafts)

Ehime
Tobe Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Ozu Paper (Paper)

Kochi
Tosa Forged Blades (Metal) Tosa Paper (Paper)

Kyushu Region

Fukuoka
Hakata Textiles (Weaving) Kurume Ikat (Weaving) Koishiwara Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Agano Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Yamefukushima Household Buddhist Altars (Buddhist Altars and Accessories) Hakata Art Dolls (Dolls) Yame Lanterns (Miscellaneous Crafts)

Saga
Imari-Arita Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Karatsu Ware (Pottery and Porcelain)

Nagasaki
Mikawachi Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Hasami Ware (Pottery and Porcelain)

Kumamoto
Shodai Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Amakusa Pottery and Porcelain (Pottery and Porcelain) Higo Inlay (Metal)

Oita
Beppu Bamboo Basketry (Bamboo)

Miyazaki
Oshima Pongee (Weaving) Miyakonojo Bows (Bamboo)

Kagoshima
Oshima Pongee (Weaving) Satsuma Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Kawanabe Household Buddhist Altars (Buddhist Altars and Accessories)

Ryuku Region

Okinawa
Kumejima Pongee (Weaving) Miyako Fine Ramie (Weaving) Yuntanza Hana-ui Fabrics (Weaving) Yuntanza Minsaa (Weaving) Ryukyu Ikat (Weaving) Shuri Fabrics (Weaving) Yonaguni Fabrics (Weaving) Kijoka Banana Fiber Cloth (Weaving) Yaeyama Minsaa (Weaving) Yaeyama Ramie (Weaving) Ryukyu Bingata Dyeing (Dyeing) Tsuboya Ware (Pottery and Porcelain) Ryukyu Lacquer Ware (Lacquer)