Traditional Crafts of Aichi Prefecture

15 crafts designated by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Ceramics
Akazu Pottery
赤津焼

Refined stoneware from Seto City, Aichi, with a history spanning over 1,000 years. Known for natural ash glazes and tea wares favored in Japanese tea ceremony.

Dyed Fabrics
Arimatsu-Narumi Shibori Tie-Dye
有松・鳴海絞

Famous Japanese resist-dyeing from Nagoya's Arimatsu district, producing stunning geometric patterns through intricate hand-folding and binding techniques on fabric.

Buddhist Altars & Fittings
Mikawa Buddhist Altar
三河仏壇

Distinguished Buddhist altars from the Mikawa region of Aichi, crafted with refined lacquerwork and gilding for use in both homes and temples throughout Japan.

Buddhist Altars & Fittings
Nagoya Buddhist Altar
名古屋仏壇

Magnificently ornate gold butsudan altars from Nagoya, combining lacquerwork, metalwork, and joinery by specialist craftsmen into a centerpiece of Japanese home devotion.

Dolls & Kokeshi
Nagoya Festival Dolls
名古屋節句飾

Spectacular seasonal festival dolls and decorations from Nagoya, including Hina and samurai dolls, warrior banners, and carp streamers for Japanese seasonal celebrations.

Dyed Fabrics
Nagoya Kuromontsuki Black Dyeing
名古屋黒紋付染

Masterful black formal kimono dyeing from Nagoya, producing the deep, lustrous black used for haori and kimono worn at ceremonial occasions across Japan.

Woodcraft & Bamboocraft
Nagoya Paulownia Wood Chest
名古屋桐簞笥

Traditional Japanese clothing chests (tansu) from Nagoya, crafted from lightweight paulownia wood. Prized for moisture resistance and protective qualities for silk kimono.

Dyed Fabrics
Nagoya Yuzen Dyeing
名古屋友禅

Elegant hand-dyed kimono fabric from Nagoya, using the yuzen technique to create vivid, painterly floral and landscape motifs on fine silk cloth.

Stonecraft
Okazaki Stone Craft
岡崎石工品

Skillfully carved granite lanterns, pagodas, and garden ornaments from Okazaki, Aichi, a city renowned as Japan's premier center for decorative stonework.

Buddhist Altars & Fittings
Owari Buddhist Altar Fittings
尾張仏具

Intricately crafted Buddhist altar implements and ornaments from the Owari region of Aichi, produced by specialist artisans serving temples and households across Japan.

Other Crafts
Owari Shippo Cloisonne
尾張七宝

Vibrant enamel cloisonne ware from Nagoya, featuring richly colored glass-enamel designs on metal. Owari Shippo vases and ornaments dazzle with jewel-like brilliance.

Ceramics
Sanshu Onigawara Roof Tiles
三州鬼瓦工芸品

Iconic demon-face roof tiles (onigawara) from Aichi's Mikawa region, hand-sculpted from clay to ward off evil and adorn traditional Japanese architecture.

Ceramics
Seto染付 Sometsuke Pottery
瀬戸染付焼

Elegant blue-and-white underglaze painted ceramics from Seto, Aichi, featuring delicate hand-brushed designs on porcelain tableware and tea utensils.

Ceramics
Tokoname Pottery
常滑焼

One of Japan's oldest kilns, Tokoname in Aichi is famous for iron-rich red clay teapots and ceramics prized by tea ceremony enthusiasts worldwide.

Stationery & Writing
Toyohashi Calligraphy Brushes
豊橋筆

Finely crafted calligraphy and painting brushes from Toyohashi, Aichi, accounting for a major share of Japan's brush production. Prized for precision and responsiveness.