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Traditional crafts in Japan

20 galleries

Japan has a long tradition of "monozukuri" (literally "making things"). The skills of artisanal craft have historically been highly valued and there are many craftsmen working in areas as diverse as traditional wooden furniture and artisan denim.

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  • Potter Kazuya Ishida, Apr 2018
    Potter Kazuya Ishida, Apr 2018
    18 images
    Kazuya Ishida is a potter from Bizen in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. He is Project Administrator of the Oxford Anagama Project, which has built a Bizen-style kiln in Wytham Woods near Oxford, UK.
  • Tendo shogi pieces, Apr 2018
    Tendo shogi pieces, Apr 2018
    43 images
    The city of Tendo in Yamagata Prefecture is famous for its shogi (Japanese chess) playing pieces. Production started early in the 19th century and Tendo still produces over 95% of the Shogi pieces made in Japan.
  • Gyokusendo copperware, Aug 2017
    Gyokusendo copperware, Aug 2017
    39 images
    Traditional copper metalworking company Gyokusendo was founded in 1816 and is a registered as a traditional craft of Japan. At Gyokusendo, in a highly-skilled craft process, complex items such as teapots are beaten from a single sheet of copper using hammers and hundreds of other specialist tools.
  • Miyakonojo Bows, Jan 2017
    Miyakonojo Bows, Jan 2017
    48 images
    A handful of bowyers from the Kyushu city of Miyakonojo make over 90% of all the bows used in traditional Japanese archery. The bows are made from laminated bamboo and haze wood in process that consists of over 200 individual tasks. At over two meters from tip to tip the bows the longest used in the world.
  • Robert Soanes armour restorer, May 2016
    Robert Soanes armour restorer, May...
    21 images
    Craftsman Robert Soanes specializes in the restoration and conservation of samurai armour, swords and other Japanese fine art. He lives and works in the English seaside resort of Brighton.
  • Oriental Carpet Mills, June 2016
    Oriental Carpet Mills, June 2016
    57 images
    Oriental Carpet Mills was founded in 1935 and produces luxury hand-woven and tufted carpets. Its carpets are used all over the world, including in the Vatican, the Imperial Palace in Tokyo and the Kabukiza Kabuki Theatre.
  • Edokiriko cut glass, Jan 2015
    Edokiriko cut glass, Jan 2015
    57 images
    Edokiriko is a style of traditional Japanese cut glass that dates back to 1834 and which has its roots in British cut glass. Edokiriko mainly uses red and blue soda glass and crystal. The glass is cut and polished with a large variety of diamond wheels to produce highly intricate Japanese motifs. Edokiriko is a specialty product of Tokyo's "shitamachi" downtown area. Edokiriko sculptures and decorations are on display in the 634m high Tokyo Sky Tree in Tokyo's Sumida Ward.
  • Woodblock print making, Oct 2014
    Woodblock print making, Oct 2014
    42 images
    The Adachi Foundation for the Preservation of Woodcut Printing works to preserve the original techniques of Japanese woodblock printing. Classic ukiyo-e from the Edo period are painstakingly recreated using original tools and methods, and sold to the public. As well as recreating old prints, the foundation commissions contemporary artists to produce new ukiyo-e designs. The foundation trains and employs young artisans to ensure the future of the art form.
  • Bizen, Okayama, Feb 2014
    Bizen, Okayama, Feb 2014
    48 images
    The city of Bizen in central Japan is famous for Bizen-ware pottery. Bizen-ware is typically reddish-brown, unglazed, rough and rustic looking. Bizen is also one of Japan's main traditional sword making regions, home to "Osafune" sword-makers and polishers. Bizen was a province of pre-modern Japan with its capital located in the modern-day Okayama city.
  • Kintsugi event, London, Jan 2014
    Kintsugi event, London, Jan 2014
    11 images
    Kintsugi event, Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, London, UK, January 24, 2014. Kintsugi literally means "joining with gold": a technique to piece together broken pottery or glass with lacquer, rice-glue and gold. The highly-skilled work is often undertaken by lacquer or maki-e artisans. Pieces repaired using the kintsugi technique can actually become more valuable then before they were broken. During the event a demonstration was given by Kyoto Maki-e craftsman Muneaki Shimode.
  • Iwayado Tansu, Iwate, Oct 2013
    Iwayado Tansu, Iwate, Oct 2013
    49 images
    Iwayado Tansu chests of drawers and other wooden furniture have been made in the city of Oshu since the 1780s. The craft furniture is noted for its rich urushi lacquer finish and finely-wrought metalwork fittings. Some contain secret compartments for storing valuables. Traditionally they were given as part of a bride's dowry and a top quality chest of drawers can cost as much as 1 million yen (10,000 dollars).
  • Mashiko pottery town, Tochigi, May 2013
    Mashiko pottery town, Tochigi, May...
    38 images
    The small town of Mashiko in Tochigi Prefecture, is one of Japan's leading pottery towns, famous for its association with master potter Shoji Hamada. Mashiko is about three hours journey by train from Tokyo, and the home of around 380 kilns and 50 ceramics shops. Shoji Hamada moved to Mashiko in 1924 and was a close friend and collaborator of famous British potter Bernard Leach. Hamada's former home is now the Mashiko Sankokan (the Mashiko Collection Reference Museum).
  • Omiya bonsai village, Saitama, Sept 2013
    Omiya bonsai village, Saitama, Sept...
    50 images
    The Omiya Bonsai Village is in the Japanese city of Omiya, Saitama Prefecture, around a one hour journey from the center of Tokyo. It was founded in 1925 and is Japan's best-known production center for bonsai. There are a number of bonsai nurseries in the area. Each may a large bonsai festival is held and the usually sleepy town welcomes around 100,000 visitors over several days. Some nurseries in the village hold bonsai lessons.
  • Okayama denim, July 2013
    Okayama denim, July 2013
    46 images
    Kojima is the birthplace of Japanese denim and famous for artisan jeans. The area's textile industry is based on advanced dyeing and weaving technology that has it's roots in pre-industrial indigo dyeing. Kojima is the birthplace of Japanese denim and famous for artisan jeans. The area's textile industry is based on advanced dyeing and weaving technology that has it's roots in pre-industrial indigo dyeing.
  • Sento painter Toshimitsu Hayakawa, Dec 2007/Apr2008
    Sento painter Toshimitsu Hayakawa,...
    36 images
    Toshimitsu Hayakawa was one of Tokyo's last sento bathhouse mural painters.
  • Nambu Tekki Ironware, Aug 2008
    Nambu Tekki Ironware, Aug 2008
    38 images
    Nambu Tekki ironware is from the Iwate region of northern Japan. The craft has a 900 year history.
  • Karl Bengs German-Japanese architecture, April 2009
    Karl Bengs German-Japanese...
    14 images
    German architect Karl Bengs diassembles Japanese wooden farmhouses then rebuilds them in his own modern, comfortable and unique style.
  • World's largest firework, Apr 2009
    World's largest firework, Apr 2009
    37 images
    Katakai Fireworks Co. make the world's largest firework, a 120cm round shell called a "yonshakudama".
  • FCCJ tattoo demonstration, Feb 2009
    FCCJ tattoo demonstration, Feb 2009
    15 images
    Author Manami Okazaki and photographer Martin Hladik introduce their book: "Tattoo in Japan" while tattoo master Horimyo demonstrates his art.
  • Tsukiji tuna knives, July 2008
    Tsukiji tuna knives, July 2008
    55 images
    The tuna knives used at Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo are a blend of Japanese samurai sword making skill and western knife technology.