About Japanese Traditional Crafts Database

Japanese Traditional Crafts Database is a free, English-language reference covering every craft officially designated by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry under the Act on the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries (1974) — designed for English-speaking researchers, collectors, travellers, and makers.

What is in the database

244 designated crafts, each with its Japanese name, prefecture, region, main products, designation date, and category
15 categories — ceramics, lacquerware, textiles, dyed fabrics, washi paper, metalwork, woodcraft and bamboocraft, dolls, Buddhist altars and fittings, stonecraft, stationery and writing tools, precious stonework, craft materials and tools, and others
Cross-links between related crafts within the same category and region

Where the data comes from

The designation list, designation dates, prefectures, and product classifications come from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Association for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries (kougeihin.jp). Each entry links to its primary source. No user-generated content is included.

Why it exists

Japan keeps detailed, structured public records of its designated crafts — but almost all of it is published only in Japanese. This database makes those records readable and searchable in English, so that a craft can be looked up by name, by prefecture, or by the kind of object it produces.

Corrections

Designations change: new crafts are added and details are revised. If you find an error or an out-of-date entry, please tell us through the Contact page.

Disclaimer

This is an independent project and is not affiliated with any Japanese government agency or official organization. While we strive for accuracy, we make no warranties about the completeness or timeliness of the information provided.