Latest Articles
![Without These Shears, I Can't Work — What Bonsai Master Masashi Hirao Calls His Partner [Part 1]](https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/1775a3633c8b428d9f011c6a758a8a5c/7b78ef6c844c43f8a23fe7287b67fa41/Rectangle%201637-3.png?w=800&fm=webp)
Their Beloved Things
Without These Shears, I Can't Work — What Bonsai Master Masashi Hirao Calls His Partner [Part 1]

Crossing Perspectives
What Is a Bonsai Craftsman — A Journey Inspired by the Japanese Art of Bonsai(Bjorn L Bjorholm)

The Outline of Crafts
Mastering Iron with Wisdom and Instinct: The Four Core Technologies Behind Nambu Ironware's Value



A Century of Craft, A Master's Voice
What lies at the heart of Japan’s finest craftsmanship? We delve into the techniques and philosophies of those who both uphold tradition and embrace innovation.

Part 3 (Final): Challenge and Succession—A Message From Contemporary Master Craftsman Hiroshi Hatakeyama to the Next Generation
As an inheritor of traditional techniques, facing the tides of change is inevitable.

Part 2: The Quest for Color and Firing—Contemporary Master Craftsman Hiroshi Hatakeyama on the Profound World of Tokyo Shippo
From practical items like car emblems and school crests to stunning artworks in museums, the Tokyo Shippo enamelware created by Hiroshi Hatakeyama has a unique way of captivating people while seamlessly blending into everyday life.

Part 1: A Path to Tokyo Shippo Paved by Playtime—The Origin of 'Contemporary Master Craftsman' Hiroshi Hatakeyama
Once, there was a young boy who spent nearly every day playing outside, with little interest in his family's shippo-yaki (cloisonné) workshop.

Part 5 (Final): Living National Treasure Akihiro Maeta Reflects on the Traditional Craft of White Porcelain
As its pure white color and sculpted form suggest, hakuji, or white porcelain, is an art form where superficial techniques simply don't cut it.
![[No.4]The Secret to the Expressive Techniques Only Living National Treasure Akihiro Maeta Can Create](https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/1775a3633c8b428d9f011c6a758a8a5c/84dcf16ed8ff437894afd212539881eb/003_1.png?w=800&fm=webp)
[No.4]The Secret to the Expressive Techniques Only Living National Treasure Akihiro Maeta Can Create
Akihiro Maeta's work drew widespread attention when his stark white porcelain, completely unadorned, won a grand prize at a major ceramics exhibition.
Japanese Craft Glossary
Every craft holds a history that shaped it, a technique that defines it, and a culture that sustains it. From materials and regions to historical context — we explore Japan's traditional crafts from every angle.

What Made This Land So Special? The Iwate Terroir That Gave Birth to Nambu Ironware
It's no accident when a craft is passed down in one specific place for hundreds of years.

Why Hirosaki? How Tsugaru-Nuri's Durability and Splendor Were Born From a Snow Country's Climate and History
Why does a specific craft emerge and evolve uniquely in a particular place? Delving into its origins isn't just about tracing the history of craftsmanship—it's about understanding the very spirit, culture, and relationship with nature that define the people of that land.
Why Did Pottery Flourish Here? Uncovering the Secrets of a Kiln Site Nurtured by Lake Memories and Culture
When you hear the words "Shigaraki ware," you might picture those charming tanuki (raccoon dog) statues.
Seeking the Artisans
We go to where the makers are. Conversations in workshops, impressions gathered at the bench. The skills and lives of artisans, encountered firsthand.

Honoring Tradition, Breaking the Mold: The Path of the 8th-Generation Master of Kurobane Aizome Konya
In the Kurobane district of Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture, you'll find the indigo dyeing workshop Kurobane Aizome Konya, a business that has continued since the Edo period.

Rediscovering the Lost Scenery of a Dyeing Town: Edo Sarasa at Some No Sato Ochiai
Nestled by the Myoshoji River in Tokyo's Ochiai, Shinjuku Ward, is Some no Sato Ochiai, a general incorporated association dedicated to preserving the traditional dyeing arts of Edo Sarasa and Edo Komon.

Carrying the Light of Prayer Into the Next Generation: Yame Lanterns and Shiraki Kougei
Yame Chochin (lanterns) are a traditional craft passed down through generations in Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
Their Beloved Things
Every great work has a companion that never takes the spotlight. A tool worn smooth by years of use — shaped by hands, shaped by habit, shaped by trust. We explore the cherished objects that quietly power the performances we admire.
![Without These Shears, I Can't Work — What Bonsai Master Masashi Hirao Calls His Partner [Part 1]](https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/1775a3633c8b428d9f011c6a758a8a5c/7b78ef6c844c43f8a23fe7287b67fa41/Rectangle%201637-3.png?w=800&fm=webp)
Without These Shears, I Can't Work — What Bonsai Master Masashi Hirao Calls His Partner [Part 1]
Masashi Hirao is a bonsai master. But for him, bonsai are not static, finished pieces to be admired from afar.

Holding This Knife Gets Me in the Zone—Masahiro Kasahara of Sanpi Ryoron on What Makes a 'Partner'
For Masahiro Kasahara, a chef's knife is more than just a kitchen tool.
The Future Map of Crafts
Young artisans who are learning tradition and searching for their own unique expressions. Their journey, filled with uncertainty yet moving forward, holds clues to the future. We bring you the voices of these young people who are not content to simply carry on tradition, but are creating the next generation of crafts.

Why Fourth-Generation Printer Nobuto Ogawa Is Reviving a Faltering Craft Cycle
The Sekioka Mokuhanga Kobo workshop continues a lineage of woodblock printers that stretches back to the Edo period.

Passing on a Master's Legacy to the Next Generation: The Challenge of Frame Artisan Daichi Kurihara
Tokyo Picture Frames, born from the masterful skills of artisans, are crafted to beautifully enhance masterpieces.

Shogo Watari: The Beauty of Curved Wood that Embodies Nature, Dialoguing with Yoshino Hinoki & the Body
Shogo Watari explores a new expression of bentwood that weaves together Yoshino hinoki, straight and curved lines, and the relationship between nature and the artificial. This article visits his Kyoto atelier to learn about his practice.
Crossing Perspectives
What draws them to Japanese craftsmanship? Through living, working, and learning in Japan, they encountered a world of refined skills and artistry. From their unique cultural backgrounds, they share how Japanese handcrafts resonate with them—and the possibilities they see beyond.

What Is a Bonsai Craftsman — A Journey Inspired by the Japanese Art of Bonsai(Bjorn L Bjorholm)
My Introduction to Bonsai, Which Began with a MovieI first began my journey into the art of bonsai at the age of 13 when I received my very first tree from my parents as a birthday gift.

Mitsutsuna, the First Non-Japanese Swordsmith: The Passion Poured Into a Single Blade (Johan Leutwiler)
The Impact of a Japanese Sword, Seen Through the Eyes of a CraftsmanWhen I was 17 and traveling in France, I came across a Japanese sword at an exhibition in a department store.

Resisting Erasure - When Form and Dye Meet in Textiles(Hannah Waldron)
Where Material and Imagination MeetHand-crafted textiles have a beguiling way of enchanting the artists who work with them.
Living Beside Tradition
Women who married into families that carry on traditional crafts. Balancing the artisan's family business, community ties, and raising children... This series portrays the reality and hope of craftsmanship from the “other side of the story” that is rarely spoken of.

A Long, Steady Flame: A Wife's Work to Keep the Business Burning
Omori Warosokuya has been running for about 200 years in Uchiko, Ehime Prefecture.

From Tokyo to Chichibu: Becoming an Artisan's Wife While Raising Four Children and My Role at Arakei Textile
"It's been quite a journey to get here."Sonoe Arai says this with a smile at the factory of Arakei Textile, a Chichibu Meisen weaving workshop.

Captivated by Kishu Chests: The Journey of Chiaki Azuma, the First Female Traditional Craftswoman
Chiaki Azuma is a certified Traditional Craftswoman in the lacquering division for Kishu chests, making her the first woman in Japan to earn this title in the paulownia chest category.
The Outline of Crafts
Where does this beauty come from, and how has the technique been passed down? By tracing the lives and cultures of artisans throughout the country, we will uncover the secrets of Japanese craftsmanship. Where does this beauty come from, and how has the technique been passed down? By tracing the lives and cultures of artisans throughout the country, we will uncover the secrets of Japanese craftsmanship.

Mastering Iron with Wisdom and Instinct: The Four Core Technologies Behind Nambu Ironware's Value
The dignified presence and lasting durability of Nambu ironware aren't achieved overnight.

The Soul of Mizuhiki: An Artisan's Mind and Skill in Weaving Diverse Shapes From a Single Cord
Mizuhiki is a traditional Japanese craft, well-known as the decorative art form on celebratory envelopes and engagement gifts.

Tradition, Mass Production, and the Future: A Deep Dive Into the Technology Shaping Hasami Ware
Have you ever wondered just how much wisdom and technology goes into a single piece of pottery before it reaches your dining table? The Hasami ware we casually use every day is backed by a rich tapestry of techniques, cultivated and perfected over a 400-year history.



















