Seeking the Artisans

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.

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.

Yame Chochin (lanterns) are a traditional craft passed down through generations in Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture.

The origins of Banko-yaki are quite chic. In the 18th century, Rozan Nunami, a wealthy merchant from Kuwana (Mie Prefecture), was so driven by his passion for tea that he opened his own kiln.

"Yachimun no Sato" in Yomitan Village, Okinawa, is a celebrated hub for local crafts.

Tsuboya, in Naha City, Okinawa. In this area, a symbol of post-war reconstruction, the Takaesu family has been crafting yachimun pottery for over 300 years.

In Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, lies "Deko Yashiki," a village of artisans that has thrived since the Edo period.

How many people have actually combed their hair with a handmade boxwood comb? Chances are, most have never even held one.

In Asato, Naha City, Okinawa, sits the Nakamine Shamisen-ten, now celebrating 65 years in business.

In Shuri Yamagawa-cho, Naha City, Okinawa—a land that still echoes the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom—you'll find Kakuman Shikki, a venerable Ryukyu lacquerware establishment with a history spanning over 120 years.

Welcome to Haebaru, a town in Okinawa Prefecture right next to Naha City.

Kofu, Yamanashi, a city that once prospered as a post town on the Koshu Kaido highway.

Once, Tokyo was home to countless coopers. Today, however, only one person carries on the technique.

With over 130 years of history, Minakuchi Shuzo has been brewing sake in the heart of Dogo Onsen, one of Japan's most famous tourist destinations.

Sekioka Woodblock Print Studio carries on a traditional woodblock printing lineage dating back to the Edo period.

Moriyama Ward, a long district stretching across northeastern Nagoya.

Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture. Every October, the entire city buzzes with excitement for its autumn festival, where "danjiri" floats take center stage.

When you look at a finished pearl, you see a serene and beautiful object.

Amid the traditional imagery of Tobe ware, one finds vessels adorned with strikingly free-flowing lines.

Hachioji, a city in Tokyo once celebrated as the "City of Mulberry," has a rich history of prosperity built on sericulture and weaving.

Nestled in the mountainous Nao district of Saga Prefecture, Nao Tesuki Washi is a craft that has been passed down for approximately 330 years.

For 120 years, Isami Corporation has been crafting tabi socks in Gyoda City, Saitama Prefecture.

The umbrella industry once flourished from Fukui to Ishikawa, with over 860 companies dotting the landscape.

Nestled in Iriya, Taito Ward, Tokyo—a neighborhood where traditional artisan workshops still thrive—is the Tokyo Silversmithing studio, Nisshin Kikinzoku.

Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture. Nearly 150 years have passed since the sound of shogi pieces became an integral part of this town's daily life.

Kyukei Goto, owner of the Kamakurabori Goto Kyukei Gallery, is the 29th-generation descendant of the famed Buddhist sculptor Unkei.

For 400 years, Kiyohara Orimono has carried on the legacy of Tsuzure-ori, a highly sophisticated hand-weaving technique.

In the heart of Tokyo, Urushigei Nakajima continues to champion the traditions of Edo lacquerware.

Mino Washi boasts a 1,300-year history. But one artisan, while shouldering this immense legacy, is already looking toward the next era.

Tsumami kanzashi is a traditional Japanese craft with roots in the Edo period.

In the crisp, dry winter air of Takasaki, Gunma, a city that produces 80% of Japan's "good luck daruma," you'll find artisans who imbue paper with prayers, shaping it into vessels for wishes.

When you work in the travel industry, you can't help but notice the unbreakable bond between a place and its culture.

Nestled in Tokyo's Edogawa Ward, Nakakin Glass Sogo Co.

Nestled in Kazo City in northern Saitama Prefecture is the Bushu Shoaizome (indigo dyeing) workshop, Ishiori Shoten.

Established in 1913, Bamba Dyeing Factory continues the art of hand-dyed screen printing in its local factory in Fushimi, Kyoto.

From the "Shunju-no-Ma" stateroom of the Imperial Palace to the lobby of the Kabukiza Theatre and renowned architectural landmarks at home and abroad, you'll find their carpets.

Based in Wakayama, Kagu no Azuma is a workshop led by fifth-generation artisan Fukutaro Azuma.

Yuki-tsumugi is a silk textile produced mainly in and around Yuki City, Ibaraki Prefecture.

The moment you step inside the Yamagata workshop, the atmosphere shifts.

At the foot of the Kiso River stands Inuyama Castle, boasting the oldest surviving castle keep in Japan.

Higo Zogan, a traditional craft passed down in Kumamoto, is renowned for its unique beauty, with gold and silver designs that seem to float on a jet-black background.

The strong sunlight of Amami Oshima, its clear water, and its iron-rich earth.

Maruoyaki is a pottery studio nestled in Amakusa, Kumamoto.

Based in Wakayama, Kanemasa Meriyasu Co., Ltd. has carved out a unique niche in the world of circular knitting since its establishment in 1964.

Celebrated as the world's most intricate fabric, "Oshima Tsumugi" is a traditional craft with a 1300-year history, handed down through generations and deeply intertwined with Amami's natural landscape and the lives of its people.

Japan is home to ancient pottery hubs known as the Six Ancient Kilns.

Chichibu Meisen, the pride of Saitama Prefecture, is a silk fabric cherished by women during the Taisho Roman and Showa Modern eras.

With a legacy stretching back 270 years, Edo Kimekomi Dolls are a celebrated form of traditional Hina dolls.

Oshima Tsumugi, the traditional craft of Amami Oshima, is renowned worldwide as an unparalleled, exquisite textile.

In the heart of Fukagawa, Tokyo, you'll find Jewelry Sashou, a workshop that carries on the techniques of "Tokyo Chokin," a traditional craft designated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Nara brushes are a craft with a proud history stretching back over 1,000 years, making them the oldest in Japan.

Kumihimo, or braided cords, were once essential items, used for the straps of samurai swords and as *obijime* sashes for women's kimonos.

Shigaraki, a town in Koka City, Shiga Prefecture. Shigaraki ware, from one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns, is known for its charmingly rustic and powerful character.

In Part 1, we traced the journey of "Tsugaru Vidro," from its origins making glass floats for fishing to overcoming two major crises and innovating to become one of Aomori's signature crafts.

Winters in Iwate are long and harsh. Traditionally, during the agricultural off-season, women would hand-weave linen and cotton to make their own clothing.

Picture frames are the unsung heroes that make a painting truly shine.

Rebelling against his father, a Living National Treasure, Nakagawa immersed himself in contemporary art.

The art of *kioke* (wooden bucket) making is said to have arrived from the Asian continent around 700 years ago.

Imagine lacquerware that lets light filter through, unveiling a hidden layer of shimmering mother-of-pearl (raden) that glows like a starry night sky.

In 2023, a piece from a Japanese workshop was added to the collection of the Smithsonian, America's national museum.

Johana, in Toyama Prefecture, once thrived as a center for "Kaga silk" production.

"Echizen Uchihamono," traditional metalwork crafted mainly in Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture, utilizes time-honored Japanese fire forging and hand-sharpening techniques.

The technology to produce modern glass was introduced to Japan in the latter half of the 19th century.

"Nambu Kodai Katazome" (南部古代型染), a traditional craft passed down for over 400 years in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture.

Wakasa agate craft (Wakasa menou zaiku) is a traditional craft made by processing agate rough stones in the Obama City area of Fukui Prefecture.

Located along the Nikko Kaido route that leads to old Edo, Kasukabe in Saitama has been a production center for straw hats since the Meiji era.

Patterns, painstakingly created stitch by stitch over long periods of time.

Breathability, lightness, and beautiful luster—furniture and everyday items using the natural material, rattan, are garnering renewed attention.

Wakasa-nuri is a traditional craft that has continued since the Edo period in Obama City (Wakasa region), Fukui Prefecture.

Rakugei Kobo, Inc. produces Hikibaku, a traditional technique in Nishijin-ori weaving that has been passed down for over 300 years.

With scorching summers and harshly cold winters, the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture is surrounded by mountains and has fostered "Aizu cotton" in its unique basin climate.

Kurotori Forge, a blacksmith based in the mountains of Kochi Prefecture, crafts an array of blades including kitchen knives, hatchets, and outdoor knives.

Thank you as always for reading Artisan.We are pleased to announce the launch of three new content series that take a multifaceted look at Japanese crafts through the lenses of skill, spirit, and the support behind its heritage.

Featured in Manyoshu and Kojiki, wisteria cloth is said to be the origin of Japanese textiles.

"Hakata-ori" textiles are meticulously woven on warp threads to create patterns.

Maida Senga Kogei in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, is a workshop dedicated to crafting the traditional dyeing technique, Kaga Yuzen.

Banshu-ori weaving, produced in the Kita-Harima area of Hyogo Prefecture, is distinguished by its natural texture and vibrant colors, known as a yarn-dyed cotton textile.

The area located in the northwest of Kyoto (Kamigyo Ward, Kita Ward) is called "Nishijin," and the textiles produced by weavers belonging to the Nishijin Textile Industry Association are referred to as "Nishijin-ori.

Ishikawa Prefecture produces almost 100% of Japan's gold leaf.

Tosa washi from Kochi Prefecture is considered one of the "three major" washi types alongside Echizen washi from Fukui Prefecture and Mino washi from Gifu Prefecture.

"Edo Karakami" is a traditional Japanese art paper used for Fusuma (sliding doors) and wallpaper, which has adorned the merchant culture since the Edo period.

A small workshop located in Arakawa, Tokyo. As you open the door, a quiet warmth welcomes you, and the vibrant colors of Shippou-yaki (cloisonné ware) leap into view.

Chita cotton originated during the Keicho era (around 1600) as a side business for farmers, producing raw cotton that was sent to Edo.

Mino ware is a representative pottery of Japan with over 1,300 years of history in the Tono region of Gifu Prefecture.

During Japan's high growth period, Kinkazan textiles adorned interiors and the interiors of tour buses with vibrant colors.

Located in Ako City, Hyogo Prefecture, a town historically known for its flourishing salt industry, is a well-known area for Ako Dantsu, a local floor covering designated as a Hyogo Prefecture Traditional Craft.

Tobe-yaki, a ceramic tradition passed down in Tobe Town, Iyo District, Ehime Prefecture, boasts a history of about 250 years.

Amidst the ocean breezes brushing through Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture lies a region renowned for its towel production, famously known as "Imabari Towels.

Colorful masks that catch the eye with their captivating presence.

Imabari City, Kikuma Town in Ehime Prefecture, is the birthplace of "Kikuma-gawara," a rooftiling stile known for its elegant silver luster.

"Ozu Washi," handed down in Ikazaki, Uchiko, Ehime Prefecture, is a traditional form of paper that traces its history back 350 years to when it thrived as a source of income for the Ozu Domain.

Mafu Okai started as a wholesaler of handwoven Nara Sarashi, later establishing its own brand.

A wine glass characterized by its captivatingly beautiful wood grain.

With sickles, hatchets, and kitchen knives... this is Tsubame-Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture, known as a town of metalwork.

The ceramics made in the vicinity of Hasami Town in Nagasaki Prefecture are referred to as "Hasami-yaki.

Takeno Senko started as a wholesale fabric manufacturer specializing in roll printing before launching its own factory brand.

Known far and wide, "Edo Kiriko" is a traditional Japanese craft that has continued since the Edo period.

In the Fukui Prefecture, particularly around Sabae City, the lacquerware produced is known as "Echizen lacquerware.

Formerly a wholesaler for Tango Chirimen textiles, kuska fabric has rebranded and relaunched.

Rainy days often bring on a feeling of gloom. But with a favorite umbrella, not only can your spirits lift, you might even find yourself looking forward to rainy days.

Fukui Prefecture stands among Italy, China, and South Korea as a major eyewear production hub.

Announcing the start of Artisan’s YouTube channel!

Soft cords, hard cords, rough cords, smooth cords. There are even cords that glow in the dark and those that have tubes running through them.

Brushes are everyday tools used in various aspects of our lives, including cleaning and maintenance.

Bingata, designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Japan, is a traditional dyeing technique alongside Yuzen dyeing and Komon dyeing.

The clear blue sea and lush greenery span across Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture.

Raden refers to a type of decoration applied to lacquerware, using shells like nacre to create a shimmering beauty.

A comb with a warm yellow tint. It feels surprisingly familiar in your hand and glides smoothly through your hair.

Located in the Shuri district of Naha City, Okinawa, Shuri Textile Museum "suikara" serves as a facility dedicated to passing on the two traditional crafts of Ryukyu bingata and Shuri-ori cloth to the next generation.

Tatami is a unique element of Japanese traditional culture, once an essential part of Japanese homes.

Located in Hita City, Oita Prefecture, which along with Fukuyama City in Hiroshima Prefecture and Shizuoka City in Shizuoka Prefecture is regarded as one of the three major production areas for geta.

The intricate design and deep hues that draw you in.

"Uchiwa" (referring to a round hand fan) is a stylish summer tradition that continues to enjoy enduring popularity in our daily lives.

Tin, a metal that is easy to work with and is not harmful to the human body, has been used for centuries in the production of eating utensils and crafts.

Known for their beautiful quality and soft texture, Muto Corporation's products range from fashion to interior decor, spinning a diverse array of threads from the world's thinnest to the thickest under the motto "You'll know when you touch it.

Sanyo Leather Co., Ltd. is a tanner (leather manufacturer) with its headquarters and factory located in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture.

Gifu City in Gifu Prefecture is Japan’s largest production area for Japanese umbrellas, dating back to the Edo period.

Embroidery is an indispensable technique for decorating clothing.

Nara Prefecture is famous as "Japan's No.

Fashion Tech News launches a new project, ‘Artisan’.

Tortoiseshell crafts, made skillfully from turtle shells, claws, and plastrons, have a history of over 300 years.

Located in Hachioji, Tokyo, Ishizuka Senko Limited.

Located in the northwest of Saitama Prefecture, the Chichibu area is surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty.

Glass tableware used in homes and restaurants is a common sight.

When the weather gets chilly, we yearn for woolen products.

Many of the colorful clothing and fashion accessories we see near us are dyed using chemical dyes (synthetic dyes).

"Kinsai" is a decorating technique where gold and silver foils, gold dust, and other materials are glued down.

Echizen Washi has a long history of 1500 years. Papermaking artisans of Echizen have continued to develop various techniques in accordance with the changes in times while inheriting the old and high craftsmanship.

Kurume Kasuri textiles, dyed with authentic natural indigo, captivates with their unique texture.

Most people are likely to own at least one piece of clothing made from denim.