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The Traditional Crafts of Japan (伝統的工芸品, dentōteki kōgeihin) is a series of Japanese crafts specially recognized and designated as such by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (formerly, the Minister of International Trade and Industry) in accordance with the 1974 Act on the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries [ja].^[1]^[2] As of 26 October 2023, 241 crafts have been so designated.^[1]

Background

As set out in Article 1 of the 1974 Act, the purpose of Traditional Craft industries and their promotion is to enrich the lives of the citizens and, due to their particular geographic nature, contribute to the development of local economies and, thereby, that of the nation as a whole.^[3]^[4]^: 10 This economic angle helps distinguish the designation of Traditional Crafts under the 1974 Act from that of traditional crafts as Intangible Cultural Properties under the 1950 Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties.^[4]^: 10 Financial assistance is available under both frameworks; that for Traditional Crafts focuses on five activities, namely, the training of successors, the recording of technologies and techniques, the securing of raw materials, the evolution of creative concepts and designs, and the development of demand.^[4]^: 10

Trends

In FY2016, 62,690 individuals were employed in the Traditional Crafts industry, down from 288,000 in 1979, with production valued at ¥96 billion, down from ¥540 billion in 1983.^[5] Analysis by the Traditional Crafts Industry Promotion Association [Wikidata] locates these trends within the broader context of the changes in lifestyles and employment attendant upon the nation's post-war economic growth, identifying seven principal explanatory strands: displacement by highly industrialized, mass-produced—and, as a consequence, cheaper—mass market goods; the decline of rural areas and the primary industries, such as agriculture and forestry, that provide many of the materials; construction that has posed obstacles to the sourcing of materials; changes in the education system and the employment environment that discourage the necessary apprenticeships from a young age and a life of modest, manual labour; changes in lifestyle amongst consumers, with increasing urbanization and westernization; changes in attitude towards everyday items, with a move towards disposable items chosen on the basis of fashion, novelty, and price; and changes in the family system, with the nuclear family and single households militating against transmission across generations.^[5] At the same time, there are a number of possible sources of hope: the increased demand for high-quality products typically concomitant with prosperity; interest in unique, regional cultures; new appreciation of "wa" and "monozukuri", including the burgeoning of demand in the West; and a growing awareness of the benefits of a circular economy.^[5]

Criteria

To be eligible for designation, as specified in Article 2 of the 1974 Act, the craft must be:^[3]^[6]

primarily for use in everyday life
predominantly manual in its production processes
manufactured using traditional technologies and techniques
chiefly created using traditionally-prepared and -employed materials
from a particular area, where a not-negligible number of persons are involved in its production

For these purposes, "traditional" means a history and continuity of at least one hundred years;^[1]^[4]^: 11 a "not-negligible number of persons" implies at least ten enterprises or thirty individuals, so as to ensure a scale of operations sufficient to uphold reliability;^[1] if the relevant raw materials have been exhausted or are now extremely difficult to source, a substitute is permissible so long as the flavour of the original is not lost;^[1] "technologies and techniques" refer to the skills and practices of the individual craftsman as well as the know-how accumulated within the industry, with refinements permitted so long as the craftworks' key characteristics remain fundamentally unchanged;^[1] "predominantly manual" requires the craftwork's form, features, and quality to be the product of the hand, although usage of machinery is permitted for auxiliary processes;^[1] and "use in everyday life" may include occasional and one-off events such as festivals, weddings, and funerals, if closely connected to ordinary households.^[1]

Traditional Crafts

With the designation of crafts in Chiba Prefecture and Kumamoto Prefecture in 2003, and of two craft traditions pertaining to the Ainu of Hokkaidō in 2013, at least one craft has been designated in each of the 47 prefectures.^[7]^[8] As of 26 October 2023, Tokyo has the highest number of designated crafts (22), followed by Kyōto Prefecture (17), Niigata Prefecture and Okinawa Prefecture (16), Aichi Prefecture (15), and Ishikawa Prefecture (10), Aomori Prefecture and Ōita Prefecture having but one apiece.^[8] The 241 designated crafts are divided into fifteen categories: woven textiles (38), dyed textiles (14), other textiles (5), ceramics (32), lacquerware (23), wood and bamboo (33), metalwork (16), Butsudan and Buddhist ritual implements (17), washi (9), writing tools (10), stonework (4), precious stonework (2), dolls and kokeshi (10), other (25), and craft materials & tools (3).^[9]

Craft	Prefecture	Comments	Designation	Type	Ref.
Nambu Ironware 南部鉄器 Nanbu-tekki	Iwate		1975	metalwork	[1]
Yamagata-imono 山形鋳物 Yamagata-imono	Yamagata		1975	metalwork	[2]
Honba Ōshima-tsumugi 本場大島紬 Honba Ōshima-tsumugi	Kagoshima		1975	woven textiles	[3]
Kumejima-tsumugi 久米島紬 Kumejima-tsumugi	Okinawa		1975	woven textiles	[4]
Miyako-jōfu 宮古上布 Miyako-jōfu	Okinawa		1975	woven textiles	[5]
Tsugaru Lacquerware 津軽塗 Tsugaru-nuri	Aomori		1975	lacquerware	[6]
Aizu Lacquerware 会津塗 Aizu-nuri	Fukushima		1975	lacquerware	[7]
Kutani Ware 小石原焼 Kutani-yaki	Ishikawa		1975	ceramics	[8]
Takayama Chasen 高山茶筌 Takayama chasen	Nara		1975	wood/bamboo	[9]
Inshū Washi 因州和紙 Inshū-washi	Tottori		1975	washi	[10]
Kumano Brushes 熊野筆 Kumano-fude	Hiroshima		1975	writing tools	[11]
Koishiwara Ware 小石原焼 Koishiwara-yaki	Fukuoka		1975	ceramics	[12]
Kawanabe Butsudan 川辺仏壇 Kawanabe butsudan	Kagoshima		1975	Butsudan/Buddhist ritual implements	[13]
Shigaraki Ware 信楽焼 Shigaraki-yaki	Shiga		1975	ceramics	[14]
Yumihama-gasuri 弓浜絣 Yumihama-gasuri	Tottori		1975	woven textiles	[15]
Kabazaiku 樺細工 Kabazaiku	Akita		1976	wood/bamboo	[16]
Oitama-tsumugi 置賜紬 Oitama-tsumugi	Yamagata		1976	woven textiles	[17]
Kagawa Lacquerware 香川漆器 Kagawa-shikki	Kagawa		1976	lacquerware	[18]
Hakata Dolls 博多人形 Hakata-ningyō	Fukuoka		1976	dolls/kokeshi	[19]
Echizen Washi 越前和紙 Echizen-washi	Fukui		1976	washi	[20]
Uchiyama-gami 内山紙 Uchiyama-gami	Nagano		1976	washi	[21]
Tokoname Ware 常滑焼 Tokoname-yaki	Aichi		1976	ceramics	[22]
Banshū Soroban 播州そろばん Banshū-soroban	Hyōgo		1976	writing tools	[23]
Izumo Stone Lanterns 出雲石燈ろう Izumo ishi-dōrō	Shimane		1976	stonework	[24]
Hakata-ori 博多織 Hakata-ori	Fukuoka		1976	woven textiles	[25]
Kurume-gasuri 久留米絣 Kurume-gasuri	Fukuoka		1976	woven textiles	[26]
Yomitanzan Hana-ori 読谷山花織 Yomitanzan hanaori	Okinawa		1976	woven textiles	[27]
Yuntanza-minsaa 読谷山ミンサー Yuntanza-minsã	Okinawa		1976	woven textiles	[28]
Tsuboya Ware 壺屋焼 Tsuboya-yaki	Okinawa		1976	ceramics	[29]
Kawatsura Lacquerware 川連漆器 Kawatsura-shikki	Akita		1976	lacquerware	[30]
Iga-kumihimo 伊賀くみひも Iga-kumihimo	Mie		1976	other textiles	[31]
Kyō-kumihimo 京くみひも Kyō-kumihimo	Kyōto		1976	other textiles	[32]
Akama Inkstones 赤間硯 Akama-suzuri	Yamaguchi		1976	writing tools	[33]
Awa Washi 阿波和紙 Awa-washi	Tokushima		1976	washi	[34]
Tobe Ware 砥部焼 Tobe-yaki	Ehime		1976	ceramics	[35]
Tosa Washi 土佐和紙 Tosa-washi	Kōchi	vid. Ino Paper Museum	1976	washi	[36]
Yūki-tsumugi 結城紬 Yūki-tsumugi	Ibaraki		1977	woven textiles	[37]
Akazu Ware 赤津焼 Akazu-yaki	Aichi		1977	ceramics	[38]
Kyō Ware・Kiyomizu Ware 京焼・清水焼 Kyō-yaki・Kiyomizu-yaki	Kyōto		1977	ceramics	[39]
Yame Fukushima Butsudan 八女福島仏壇 Yame Fukushima butsudan	Fukuoka		1977	Butsudan/Buddhist ritual implements	[40]
Kanazawa Gold Leaf 金沢箔 Kanazawa-haku	Ishikawa	vid. Kanazawa Yasue Gold Leaf Museum	1977	materials & tools	[41]
Nara Brushes 奈良筆 Nara-fude	Nara		1977	writing tools	[42]
Ōzu Washi 大洲和紙 Ōzu-washi	Ehime		1977	washi	[43]
Imari Ware・Arita Ware 伊万里・有田焼 Imari・Arita-yaki	Saga		1977	ceramics	[44]
Ōborisōma Ware 大堀相馬焼 Ōborisōma-yaki	Fukushima		1978	ceramics	[45]
Tamba-Tachikui Ware 丹波立杭焼 Mikawachi-yaki	Hyōgo		1978	ceramics	[46]
Hiroshima Butsudan 広島仏壇 Hiroshima butsudan	Hiroshima		1978	Butsudan/Buddhist ritual implements	[47]
Mikawachi Ware 三川内焼 Mikawachi-yaki	Nagasaki		1978	ceramics	[48]
Hasami Ware 波佐見焼 Hasami-yaki	Nagasaki		1978	ceramics	[49]
Shōgawa Woodcraft 庄川挽物木地 Shōgawa hikimono kiji	Toyama		1978	materials & tools	[50]
Mino Ware 美濃焼 Mino-yaki	Gifu		1978	ceramics	[51]
Awa shōai shijira-ori 阿波正藍しじら織 Awa shōai shijira-ori	Tokushima		1978	woven textiles	[52]
Yokkaichi Banko Ware 四日市萬古焼 Yokkaichi banko-yaki	Mie		1979	ceramics	[53]
Mashiko Ware 益子焼 Mashiko-yaki	Tochigi		1979	ceramics	[54]
Katsuyama Bamboo Crafts 勝山竹細工 Katsuyama take-zaiku	Okayama		1979	wood/bamboo	[55]
Beppu Bamboo Crafts 別府竹細工 Beppu take-zaiku	Ōita		1979	wood/bamboo	[56]
Yamagata Butsudan 山形仏壇 Yamagata butsudan	Yamagata		1980	Butsudan/Buddhist ritual implements	[57]
Izushi Ware 出石焼 Izushi-yaki	Hyōgo		1980	ceramics	[58]
Ōdate-magewappa 大館曲げわっぱ Ōdate-magewappa	Akita		1980	wood/bamboo	[59]
Suzuka Ink 鈴鹿墨 Suzuka-sumi	Mie		1980	writing tools	[60]
Miyagi Traditional Kokeshi 宮城伝統こけし Miyagi dentō kokeshi	Miyagi		1981	dolls/kokeshi	[61]
Iwayadō-tansu 岩谷堂箪笥 Iwayadō-tansu	Iwate		1982	wood/bamboo	[62]
Iga Ware 伊賀焼 Iga-yaki	Mie		1982	ceramics	[63]
Bizen Ware 備前焼 Bizen-yaki	Okayama		1982	ceramics	[64]
Miyajima Woodwork 宮島細工 Miyajima-zaiku	Hiroshima		1982	wood/bamboo	[65]
Ryūkyū Kasuri 琉球絣 Ryūkyū-kasuri	Okinawa		1983	woven textiles	[66]
Shuri-ori 首里織 Shuri-ori	Okinawa		1983	woven textiles	[67]
Agano Ware 上野焼 Agano-yaki	Fukuoka		1983	ceramics	[68]
Ise-katagami 伊勢形紙 Ise-katagami	Mie		1983	materials & tools	[69]
Ryūkyū Bingata 琉球びんがた Ryūkyū-bingata	Okinawa		1984	woven textiles	[70]
Akita Cedar Tubs and Barrels 秋田杉桶樽 Akita sugi oke taru	Akita		1984	wood/bamboo	[71]
Hidehira Lacquerware 秀衡塗 Hidehira-nuri	Iwate		1985	lacquerware	[72]
Jōbōji Lacquerware 浄法寺塗 Jōbōji-nuri	Iwate		1985	lacquerware	[73]
Mino Washi 美濃和紙 Mino-washi	Gifu		1985	washi	[74]
Ogatsu Inkstones 雄勝硯 Ogatsu-suzuri	Miyagi		1985	writing tools	[75]
Unshū Soroban 雲州そろばん Unshū-soroban	Shimane		1985	writing tools	[76]
Fukuyama Koto 福山琴 Tōkyō koto	Hiroshima		1985	other	[77]
Ryūkyū Lacquerware 琉球漆器 Ryūkyū-shikki	Okinawa		1986	lacquerware	[78]
Echizen ware 越前焼 Echizen-yaki	Fukui		1986	ceramics	[79]
Yonaguni-ori 与那国織 Yonaguni-ori	Okinawa		1987	woven textiles	[80]
Kijōka-bashōfu 喜如嘉の芭蕉布 Kijōka no bashōfu	Okinawa		1988	woven textiles	[81]
Etchū Washi 越中和紙 Etchū-washi	Toyama		1988	washi	[82]
Karatsu Ware 唐津焼 Karatsu-yaki	Saga		1988	ceramics	[83]
Yaeyama-minsaa 八重山ミンサー Yaeyama-minsã	Okinawa		1989	woven textiles	[84]
Yaeyama-jōfu 八重山上布 Yaeyama-jōfu	Okinawa		1989	woven textiles	[85]
Sekishū Washi 石州和紙 Sekishū-washi	Shimane		1989	washi	[86]
Ōuchi Lacquerware 大内塗 Ōuchi-nuri	Yamaguchi		1989	lacquerware	[87]
Naruko Lacquerware 鳴子漆器 Naruko-shikki	Miyagi		1991	lacquerware	[88]
Kasama Ware 笠間焼 Kasama-yaki	Ibaraki		1992	ceramics	[89]
Aizuhongō Ware 会津本郷焼 Aizuhongō-yaki	Fukushima		1993	ceramics	[90]
Iwami Ware 石見焼 Iwami-yaki	Shimane		1994	ceramics	[91]
Miyakonojō Bows 都城大弓 Miyakonojō-daikyū	Miyazaki		1994	wood/bamboo	[92]
Tendō Shōgi-koma 天童将棋駒 Tendō shōgi-koma	Yamagata		1996	other	[93]
Seto-sometsuke Ware 瀬戸染付焼 Seto-sometsuke-yaki	Aichi		1997	ceramics	[94]
Kyō-hyōgu 京表具 Kyō-hyōgu	Kyōto	mountings for byōbu, fusuma, makimono, &c.	1997	other	[95]
Marugame Uchiwa Fans 丸亀うちわ Marugame-uchiwa	Kagawa		1997	other	[96]
Tosa Forged Blades 土佐打刃物 Tosa-uchihamono	Kōchi		1998	metalwork	[97]
Yame Lanterns 八女提灯 Yame-chōchin	Fukuoka		2001	other	[98]
Hagi Ware 萩焼 Hagi-yaki	Yamaguchi		2002	ceramics	[99]
Satsuma Ware 薩摩焼 Satsuma-yaki	Kagoshima		2002	ceramics	[100]
Shōdai Ware 小代焼 Shōdai-yaki	Kumamoto		2003	ceramics	[101]
Amakusa Pottery 天草陶磁器 Amakusa-tōjiki	Kumamoto		2003	ceramics	[102]
Higo Inlay 肥後象がん Higo-zōgan	Kumamoto		2003	metalwork	[103]
Ōtani Ware 大谷焼 Ōtani-yaki	Tokushima		2003	ceramics	[104]
Okuaizu Basketry 奥会津編み組細工 Okuaizu amikumi-zaiku	Fukushima		2003	wood/bamboo	[105]
Kawajiri Brushes 川尻筆 Kawajiri-fude	Hiroshima		2004	writing tools	[106]
Uetsu-shinafu 羽越しな布 Uetsu-shinafu	Yamagata		2005	woven textiles	[107]
Chibana Hana-ori 知花花織 Chibana hanaori	Okinawa		2012	woven textiles	[108]
Nibutani-ita 二風谷イタ Nibutani-ita	Hokkaidō	carved wooden trays	2013	wood/bamboo	[109]
Nibutani-attushi 二風谷アットゥㇱ Nibutani-attushi	Hokkaidō		2013	woven textiles	[110]
Yamaga Lanterns 山鹿灯籠 Yamaga-tōrō	Kumamoto	vid. Yamaga Lantern Festival [ja], Yamaga Lantern Folk Art Museum [Wikidata]	2013	other	[111]
Sendai-tansu 仙台箪笥 Sendai-tansu	Miyagi		2017	wood/bamboo	[112]
Nagasaki Tortoiseshell Crafts 長崎べっ甲 Nagasaki-bekkō	Nagasaki		2017	other	[113]
Haebaru Hana-ori 南風原花織 Haebaru hanaori	Okinawa		2017	woven textiles	[114]
Okuaizu Shōwa Karamushi-ori 奥会津昭和からむし織 Okuaizu Shōwa karamushi-ori	Fukushima		2017	woven textiles	[115]
Etchū Fukuoka Sedge Hats 越中福岡の菅笠 Etchū Fukuoka no suge-gasa	Toyama		2017	other	[116]
Sanshū Onigawara Crafts 三州鬼瓦工芸品 Sanshū onigawara kōgeihin	Aichi		2017	ceramics	[117]
Nara Ink 奈良墨 Nara-sumi	Nara		2018	writing tools	[118]
Sanshin 三線 Sanshin	Okinawa		2018	other	[119]
Tokyo Shamisen 東京三味線 Tōkyō shamisen	Tokyo		2022	other	[120]
Tokyo Koto 東京琴 Tōkyō koto	Tokyo		2022	other	[121]
Edo-hyōgu 江戸表具 Edo-hyōgu	Tokyo	mountings for hanging scrolls	2022	other	[122]
Tokyo Honzome Chūsen 東京本染注染 Tōkyō honzome chūsen	Tokyo		2023	dyed textiles	[123]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h 伝統的工芸品について [About the Traditional Crafts of Japan] (in Japanese). Traditional Crafts Industry Promotion Association. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
^ "What is Kogei Japan". Kogei Japan. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
^ ^a ^b 伝統的工芸品産業の振興に関する法律 [Act on the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries] (in Japanese). Digital Agency. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d 伝統的工芸品産業の自立化に向けたガイドブック (令和4年5月) [Guidebook Aimed at the Independence of the Traditional Craft Industry] (PDF) (in Japanese). Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. May 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c 現状 [Current Situation] (in Japanese). Traditional Crafts Industry Promotion Association. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
^ "What is Kogei". Kogei Japan. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
^ 伝統的工芸品指定品目・指定順 [List of designated Traditional Crafts in order of their designation] (PDF) (in Japanese). Traditional Crafts Industry Promotion Association. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
^ ^a ^b 伝統的工芸品指定品目一覧・都道府県別 [List of designated Traditional Crafts by precture] (PDF) (in Japanese). Traditional Crafts Industry Promotion Association. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
^ 伝統的工芸品指定品目一覧・業種別 [List of designated Traditional Crafts by industry] (PDF) (in Japanese). Traditional Crafts Industry Promotion Association. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2024.