Renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship and delicate, vivid paintings, “Nabeshima ware” is regarded one of the finest porcelain in Japan. As it marks its 350th anniversary this year, a series of commemorative initiatives are planned.Nabeshima ware traces its origin to the Edo period when the Saga Domain gathered 31 of the most skilled artisans from across Japan to produce gifts and tributes for...

Mori Kougei was founded in Tokushima Prefecture in 1953. Specializing in the technique of pasting “tsuki-ita,” a wood veneer sliced as thin as paper, the company has manufactured decorative plywood, fixtures and furniture. Since 2020, Mori Kougei has focused on developing its own original products, introducing items such as the “RAYS TRAY,” a side table “STAND,” and a wall clock “CLOCK,” all featu...

“F-TRAD” is a project that reinterprets seven of Fukui Prefecture’s esteemed traditional crafts (Echizen lacquerware, Echizen washi paper, Wakasa agate work, Wakasa lacquerware, Echizen forged blades, Echizen ware, and Echizen chest) to suit modern lifestyles. The latest collection from this initiative is the result of collaboration between traditional craftsmen from Fukui and designers based outs...

JTB Corp., under commission from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Small and Medium Enterprise Support Center, has launched and operates a reservation website for traditional craft experiences in Tokyo within the JTB LAPITA platform. This website is available in both Japanese and English, making it accessible to international visitors. This initiative aligns with the evo...

Since its founding in Asakusa, Tokyo in 1931, Kimoto Glass Tokyo has collaborated with numerous craftsmen for over 90 years to introduce glass tableware to the world. With a wholesaler’s unique perspective on market trends, the company produces new glass products tailored to modern lifestyles.The company is also actively engaged in collaborations between craftsmen and designers. In January this ye...

The term “craftsmanship” has come to be widely used in recent years. It is not limited to handcrafted artisan goods but also applies to products such as watches, cars, and fashion items. The attitude of pursuing high quality in the creation of objects is often expressed as “craftsmanship,” and today many high-end brands, such as Gucci, Hermes, and Loewe, include explanation...

Following a period when Chinese and Korean tea bowls (Karamono chawan and Korai chawan, respectively) were highly valued, Japan began to produce its own tea bowls for the tea ceremony. This marked the birth of Japanese tea bowls (Wamono chawan). From their origins in Seto (Aichi Prefecture) and Mino (Gifu Prefecture), these tea bowls spread to various regions, each influencing one another in terms...

“Maison&Objet,” the international trade show for interior and design, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024, will take place at the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre in France from January 16 to 20, 2025. Since its launch in 1994, Maison&Objet has been held twice a year in January and September, as a leading international exhibition in the fields of decoration, design and lif...

On October 30, 2024, I visited the town of Wajima in the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture. This was my second visit since September of the previous year, but the town’s landscape had changed drastically since then. Upon arriving at the airport, I noticed that there were strange bumps all over the parking lot. The view from the car as I headed into the city was far more grim than I had imagined. ...

The successive heads of the Kobeigama Kiln have each produced remarkable works, continuing the kiln’s legacy. As the eighth generation head of the kiln, how do you approach this tradition? Additionally, could you share how this history influences the ceramics you create today?The first generation head of the kiln, Kobei Kato, established a nobori-gama or climbing kiln on the slopes of this mountai...

Born into the Mikawachi ware lineage of the Hirado Kohsyo Danemon Kiln, Taiyo Nakazato naturally aspired to pursue the path of ceramics, and from a young age was expected to become the next head of the kiln. “When a successor is born, all the relatives celebrate and rejoice. Perhaps because of that environment, I knew from a young age that I wanted to work in this field.”During his stu...

Wajima City in Ishikawa Prefecture is globally renowned as the birthplace of Wajima lacquerware, a traditional Japanese craft. Following the Noto Peninsula Earthquake in January 2024, local artisans lost their workshops and tools, making it difficult for them to continue their craft. In response, Wedgwood, a British Royal Warrant brand with 265 years of history rooted in craftsmanship, artistry an...