Japan is famed for its exquisite craftsmanship that connects ancient traditions with the modern world, seen everywhere from household staples to the realms of high design. Just as the master carpenters (daiku) featured in the JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles exhibit “Masters of Carpentry: Melding Forest, Skill and Spirit” are keeping alive the sacred traditions of Japanese carpentry and woodworking, so too are artisans across Japan sustaining their crafts through the generations. From razor-sharp knives to delicate ceramics, Japan’s craft heritage possesses an ongoing vitality that reflects a reverence for beauty, functionality, and the spiritual essence of everyday objects, and a particular government initiative has played a key role in helping these art forms survive. Since 1974, the “Traditional Crafts of Japan” program has served as a guardian of centuries-old techniques, demonstrating that structures of recognition and support are essential to the preservation and continuity of ancient arts.
The story of the Traditional Crafts program begins in the tumultuous years following World War II. As Japan began rebuilding, it embarked on a path of rapid industrialization that transformed the nation into an economic powerhouse. The 1960s and early 1970s saw skyscrapers rise where wooden houses once stood, and mass-produced goods – many imported and increasingly plastic – began to replace handcrafted items in homes across the country. It was in this atmosphere of whirlwind change that concerns grew about the decline of many of Japan’s traditional crafts.
In response to these concerns, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) took a decisive step in 1974 by passing the Act on the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries. This landmark legislation laid the foundation for what would become one of the world’s most comprehensive systems for preserving and promoting traditional crafts. The program’s initial goals were ambitious: to identify, designate, and support crafts that embodied Japan’s cultural heritage. The criteria for designation were equally rigorous, focusing on techniques and materials that had been in use for at least 100 years, products that were primarily handmade and used in daily life, and industries that were regionally based. These guidelines ensured that the program would not just preserve museum pieces but also living traditions that continued to have relevance in modern Japan.
At the heart of the program is the designation process itself, a meticulous evaluation that involves not just the perspectives of government officials, but also local communities and the artisans themselves. To be recognized as an official “traditional craft” is to join an elite circle, a distinction that brings both prestige and responsibility. The recognition is a testament to the skill of the artisans, the quality of the materials used and the finished handmade products (typically for everyday use), and the deep cultural and regional significance of their work. As the years passed, the Traditional Crafts program evolved, adapting to the changing landscape of the domestic as well as the global marketplace. From its initial designations, the program has grown to recognize 243 distinct crafts, reflecting not only the program’s success in identifying worthy traditions but also its flexibility in embracing new interpretations of age-old crafts.
Many varieties of woodworking and carpentry from specific parts of the country appear on the list, illustrating Japan’s deep connection to its forests and the spiritual significance of wood in Japanese culture. Hida Shunkei Lacquerware from Gifu Prefecture, for example, showcases a unique lacquering technique that enhances the natural wood grain, creating pieces that are both durable and breathtakingly beautiful (to learn more about the Hida region’s rich wood craft tradition, visit the virtual tour of previous JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles exhibition “HIDA | A Woodwork Tradition in the Making”). In the Tohoku region, simple, cylindrical dolls known as Miyagi Dento Kokeshi dolls are honored as iconic forms of Japanese folk art tied to the forested landscape that created them. On the more functional side, Niigata Prefecture is cited for its Kamo Paulownia Wood Boxes, storage containers prized for the natural antibacterial properties of paulownia and their subtle wood scent.
In addition, several types of wooden furniture are recognized by the program, such as Osaka Karaki Sashimono, products made by carpenters who assemble even large tables, chairs, and cabinetry without a single nail, using instead sturdy and beautiful joinery techniques. Similar carpentry traditions can be seen on a vaster scale in the diverse and intricate joinery techniques of building-sized architecture (as explored in the current JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles exhibition). These centuries-old wood joinery traditions known as kigumi allow wooden structures – even multi-storied temples – to be assembled without metal nails or supports, demonstrating not only stellar engineering but also a worldview that sees harmony between human creation and natural materials (to delve further into the world of shrine and temple carpentry, read this article). The flexibility and durability of these joints have allowed tall buildings to withstand earthquakes for centuries, a testament to the wisdom embedded in traditional techniques.
As Japan continues to navigate the currents of globalization and technological advancement, the Traditional Crafts program stands as a beacon of cultural continuity. In an age where the handmade and the digital coexist, these crafts are finding new relevance and deepening our notions of tradition and modernity. The story of the daiku and other craft masters across Japan demonstrates how cultural heritage can be both honored and reinvented, ensuring its survival and relevance for generations to come.