Warazaiku Takubo
WARA-NO-ENGIMONO-KAZARI

(Auspicious Straw Ornament)

This workshop is based in the terraced rice fields of Hinokage, Miyazaki Prefecture, where both rice cultivation and warazaiku (straw craft ) are done by hand. For over 60 years, they have been making shimenawa (sacred straw ropes) and other auspicious decorations, faithfully preserving and evolving the region's traditional techniques.

Pottery TamakiYACHIMUN

(Pottery Round Plate)

In Ogimi Village, Okinawa, husband-and-wife duo Nozomu and Wakako Tamaki craft tableware and shisa figures using a traditional ascending kiln. Their work draws on Okinawan pottery traditions, producing bold and expressive yachimun-ceramics deeply rooted in the local land and culture.

Okubo House WoodworksKI-NO-HERA

(Wooden Spatula) Chestnut, Right-Handed

In Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Kotarõ Okubo hand-carves kitchen tools and cutlery using a traditional Nankin kanna (small hand plane). His approach centers on listening to the feedback of those who use his tools, continually refining and evolving each form through everyday practice.

Yonezawa Broom WorkshopMATUMOTO HOKI

(Long Hand Broom)

This workshop in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, has been making Matsumoto höki (brooms) for nearly 150 years. From cultivating and harvesting broomcorn to drying and crafting, every step is done by hand. While preserving time-honored techniques, they continue to refine their tools to suit the modern lifestyle and daily use.

Tomoya OkamotoNIBUTANI ITA

(Wooden Tray)

An Ainu woodcraft artist from Urakawa, Hokkaido, Tomoya Okamoto creates traditional tools such as ita (wooden trays) and makiri (utility knives), honoring and carrying forward the skills and spirit of his ancestors.

Studio de-jinISHIJISHI

(Stone-carved Shisa)

This workshop in Shuri, Naha City, Okinawa, specializes in ishijishi-traditional stone guardian lions believed to ward off evil. Each piece is hand-carved from Ryukyu limestone. Cherished as protective spirits of villages, these figures have long been an integral part of Okinawan culture and beliefs.

Sunami Toru ShotenKAWAMAKI IKAGO

(Leather-Wrapped Handle Basket)

Founded in 1886, this long-standing workshop is located in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture. Now led by fifth-generation artisan Takaki Sunami and his team, they craft ikago-woven igusa baskets once beloved as everyday shopping baskets-reviving their use in daily life with designs that honor the natural character of the materials.

Emi SeishiTAKE KAGO

(Bamboo Basket)

Based in Namegata, Ibaraki Prefecture, this bamboo artisan creates practical baskets known as aomono for everyday purposes. From harvesting the bamboo to splitting it into strips and weaving each form, every step is done entirely by hand, making her one of the rare few who carry on this tradition.

Imayoshi ShotenHANA GOZA

(Grass Mat)

Founded in 1897, this long-established workshop is located in Nishiachi, Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture. Now in its fourth generation, Toshifumi Imayoshi crafts hanagoza (decorative woven mats) and table runners using domestically grown igusa grass. It is the last remaining workshop of its kind in Kurashiki.

Henmi Comb ShopOROKU COMBS

This workshop in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, specializes in crafting Oroku combs using minebari wood, a material known for its hardness and resilience. Each comb is made using traditional hand-sawing techniques, resulting in pieces so finely crafted that they leave the hair smooth and lustrous with a single stroke.