Videos | Traditional Crafts of Japan

Weaving (Nishijin Textiles)

  Woven textiles produced in the Nishijin area of Kyoto are known as Nishijin-ori, or Nishijin textiles. They typically feature brilliantly dyed silk interwoven with lavish gold and silver threads...

Ceramics (Shigaraki Ware)

  Shigaraki ware is one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns. Together with Bizen, Tamba, Echizen, Seto, and Tokoname, it is considered to be one of the most outstanding Japanese kilns with traditions tha...

Lacquer (Wajima Ware)

  Designated a traditional craft by the government of Japan, Wajima lacquerware is produced in the area around Ishikawa Prefecture’s Wajima City. Its glamorous, graceful, and sophisticated product...

Metalworking (Sakai Forged Blades)

  In the Edo period, (1615-1868), new forms of metalwork were made, including kitchen utensils and knives. Sakai craftsmen began applying their blade expertise to cooking knives, creating sharp bl...

Woodworking (Kyoto Joinery)

  Kyo Sashimono is a kind of wood joinery produced in the Prefecture of Kyoto. Sashimono is a collective name for furniture and furnishings assembled with wood joints that originate from the proce...

Papermaking (Echizen Paper) Echizen

  Echizen paper is known as the highest quality Japanese paper, manufactured in Reihoku province of Fukui Prefecture. Echizen paper has adopted new methods such as adding fibers into the paper, dr...