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[November 2025] Japanese Traditional Crafts

Posted on by Junko

Japanese Traditional Crafts

 In Japan, November has been designated by the government as ‘Traditional Crafts Month.’ In recognition of this, I would like to introduce the world of Japanese traditional crafts.

Across Japan, there are numerous handcrafted items that have been used in daily life and passed down through generations. As production volumes and the number of artisans continue to decline, the government ― specifically, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ― designates certain crafts that meet legally defined criteria as ‘traditional crafts.’ This designation aims to preserve and pass on traditional techniques and craftsmanship to future generations.

As of October 2025, a total of 244 items across Japan have been officially designated as ‘traditional crafts’. Once recognised, these products can carry the title and bear a special symbol mark, indicating that they are authentic and officially certified by the government.

The certification mark for Japanese traditional crafts designated by the government

In recent years, changes in lifestyle and declining demand have led to a nationwide decrease in the production value of Japanese traditional crafts. This has been accompanied by a continued drop in the number of people engaged in the industry. Ishikawa Prefecture ― where I lived for three years until March this year ― is one of Japan’s leading regions for traditional crafts. Ten of its artisanal products have received official designation, including Wajima-nuri, a renowned form of wooden lacquerware from Wajima City, and Kutani-yaki, a type of pottery manufactured in the southern part of Ishikawa Prefecture.

 Wajima-nuri is one of Ishikawa Prefecture’s most renowned crafts. Creating one product of Wajima-nuri requires more than 100 individual steps, each carried out by specialised artisans. These include artisans who create the wooden base, who apply multiple layers of various types of lacquer, and who decorate intricate designs using techniques such as maki-e (gold or silver powder painting) and chinkin (engraved gold inlay). Some products take over a year to complete.

Through this meticulous process, Wajima-nuri is known for its exceptional strength and resistance to cracking. In addition to its durability, it also embodies elegance. Moreover, its solid foundation allows for repeated repairs, enabling long-term use. However, the Wajima-nuri production area suffered severe damage from two natural disasters: the Noto Peninsula Earthquake on 1 January 2023, and heavy rainfall on 21 September of the same year. After these disasters, many young artisans have begun considering leaving the region due to uncertainty about their future. As mentioned earlier, Wajima-nuri is created through many steps involving many specialised artisans, so even the absence of a single artisan can make it impossible to complete the process.

In response, Ishikawa Prefecture is working with both public and private sectors to establish training facilities aimed at nurturing the next generation of artisans who will support the future of the Wajima-nuri industry.

While this article has focused on Wajima-nuri, it represents just one example of Japan’s rich tradition of craftsmanship. In recent years, many production areas have begun offering workshops where visitors can experience the process of making Japanese traditional crafts.

These experiences provide a deeper understanding of Japanese culture by discovering the charms of Japanese traditional crafts and the skill and spirit of artisans behind each craft. If you have the opportunity to visit Japan, I encourage you to explore a region for its traditional craft production and take part in a traditional craft-making workshop. It’s a wonderful way to connect with Japan’s rich heritage of craftsmanship.

↓My hand-painted Kutani-yaki from a traditional craft workshop. The top two photos show the piece before firing, and the bottom two reveal how it looks after being kiln-fired.

            The piece before firing

            The piece after being kiln-fired

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  • 　6月1日、バーウッド市との間で勉強会を開催しました。同市との勉強会は、2024年から毎年開催しており、今回で３回目となります。
     
    　クレアシドニー事務所からは、まず、当事務所の所長補佐の派遣元の１つである山梨県北杜市で実施されている高校生と地域事業者が協働して特産品の開発に取り組む事業を説明したところ、バーウッド市からは、参加する事業者の決め方などについて、ご質問をいただきました。続いて、地域の知名度やブランド力の向上、行政施策のわかりやすい発信などの役割を担っている日本の自治体のキャラクター、いわゆる「ゆるキャラ」について、参加した所長補佐それぞれの派遣元のキャラクターを中心に紹介したところ、バーウッド市からは、キャラクターのデザインの募集方法や選定方法などについての質問が寄せられました。
     
     
    バーウッド市からは、同市はシドニー中心部から電車で15分程度と利便性が高く、現在約4.5万人の人口が今後10年で倍増する見込みであること、2032年には市内に地下鉄の新駅が整備される予定であることなども踏まえ、将来の人口増を見据えた高密度な都市開発と公共空間の整備を進めていることが紹介されました。具体的には、例えば、芸術・文化の拠点となる新たな文化施設の整備、パブリックアートの展示や夜間経済の推進による賑わい創出などの取組について説明がありました。また、まちづくりに住民の意見を反映させるため、地域住民で構成される諮問委員会の設置やオンラインでの意見募集などを通じて、幅広く住民の意見を収集していることも紹介されました。
     
     
     
    　ひとしきり意見交換を行った後は、バーウッド市の皆様のご案内の下、パブリックアートを活用した公共空間整備や夜間経済の推進に向けた取組現場を視察しました。市内の多くの箇所で開発や整備が進められており、進行中のまちづくりの様子を確認することができました。
    　貴重な学びの機会をご提供いただいたバーウッド市の皆様に心から感謝申し上げます。
     
     
         
  • ～最優秀賞は賞金50万円～
    「第15回まんが王国とっとり国際マンガコンテスト」作品募集！(8/31締切)
     
    今年、第15回を迎える当コンテストには、「U-15賞」など15歳以下が対象の部門もあり、世界中誰でも、どんな言語でも応募可能です。現在、コンテスト作品を募集中。
    テーマは「服」、締め切りは日本時間の8月31日（月）です。
    最優秀賞の賞金は50万円、ほかに受賞者全員を授賞式にあわせて鳥取県に招待、受賞作品は『コンテスト作品集』に掲載など、多くの特典があります。たくさんのご応募をお待ちしております。
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    The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this correspondence in PDF.

  • Newsletter No.201を掲載いたしました。

  • 　Ehime Prefecture is located along Japan’s Seto Inland Sea and is home to approximately 1.27 million people. It is known for its warm climate and outstanding scenic beauty, along with its long history of citrus cultivation. The prefecture is made up of many islands, with the unique landscape of the Seto Inland Sea spreading throughout. In recent years, Ehime has become increasingly popular as a tourist destination, welcoming many domestic and international visitors all year round.

       

    In 2027, Ehime Prefecture will host “Velo-city,” an international bicycle conference, for the first time in Japan. Velo-city is one of the largest academic conferences, bringing bicycle companies, researchers, and experts together from around the world. While discussing various topics including tourism, safety, and urban planning, participants can enjoy the cityscape of Matsuyama through a bicycle parade and will also be able to visit other parts of the prefecture via ‘technical visits’ (explained below).

     

    In recent years, Ehime Prefecture has become one of the leading centers of bicycle culture in Japan. Many local residents begin riding bicycles at a very young age, and the majority of high school students commute to school by bike. Furthermore, the prefecture boasts Japan’s highest helmet-wearing rate, demonstrating strong safety awareness throughout the community. This well-established environment, which allows people of all ages to use bicycles safely on a daily basis, positions Ehime Prefecture as a  center of Japan’s bicycle culture.

    Technical visits are guided tours that allow participants to explore various locations throughout the prefecture during Velo-city, featuring multiple courses with different themes. There is a course to learn about the infrastructure and scenery of the “Shimanami Kaido,” Japan’s representative maritime cycling route; a course to study safety education initiatives in schools by observing Japan’s typical morning school commute; and a course to experience the “Henro,” a pilgrimage to Buddhist temples, by bicycle. By participating in these technical visits and experiencing the local atmosphere, participants can gain valuable insights into the prefecture’s bicycle policies firsthand.

     

    On the second day (Wednesday, 26 May 2027), a spectacular bicycle parade will fill the city center. While showcasing the prefecture’s appeal as an international model bicycle city, the event will provide a chance for all participants to experience and share how bicycles act as a catalyst for regional revitalisation, bringing new possibilities for future urban space allocation, health, a sense of purpose in life, and friendship.

    During the four-day event, approximately 80 plenary breakout sessions will be held at the venue, with discussions centered around key themes and priorities. The conference program content will be determined by selecting proposals submitted during the abstract submission period, which begins in September. To encourage active exchange of diverse perspectives, Ehime welcomes a large number of submissions. Participants are invited to apply and help make this event a success.

  •  Recently, I had the opportunity to attend an awards ceremony recognising outstanding achievement in Japanese-related studies, hosted by the Australia-Japan Society of NSW (AJS-NSW).

    On the day, certificates were presented to seven outstanding students nominated by seven universities[1] in the Greater Sydney region, and each recipient delivered a speech.

    All of the award recipients shared reflections along similar lines, such as: “Thanks to studying Japanese, I’ve had incredible experiences, like studying at a Japanese university through an exchange program and making friends from diverse backgrounds, that have truly changed my life.” Another common sentiment was: “Looking ahead, I hope to pursue a career related to Japan or possibly live there in the future, so I will continue to work hard to achieve these goals.”

    Learning and mastering a language other than one’s mother tongue is by no means an easy task. First and foremost, I would like to express my deep respect to the award recipients for their dedicated commitment to studying Japanese.

    I am also delighted that their language studies have sparked such a strong interest in Japan and a genuine desire to deepen their understanding. I was deeply impressed by their determination to maintain a connection with Japan long after graduation.

    On a personal note, I moved to Sydney last July, my first time living abroad, and I must admit that I still find speaking English challenging at times. However, seeing the dedication of the award recipients has inspired me to renew my own efforts. By conversing and connecting with others in English, I hope to further deepen my understanding of the local people, culture, and values in this region.

    [1] The seven universities were Macquarie University, The University of Newcastle, University of New England, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), The University of New South Wales (UNSW), The University of Sydney, and Western Sydney University.

  •  
    ５月21日（木）、メルボルン及びシドニーで開催されたsnow travel expoへの出展のため来豪された山形市の関係者の皆様が、クレアシドニー事務所を訪問されました。
    ブリーフィングとして、当事務所の業務内容のほか、オーストラリアの国勢、経済等に関する基本情報、日本へのインバウンドの状況などをご説明したところ、日豪の産業構造の違いや訪日観光に関する近年の動向などについてご質問をいただくなど、活発に意見交換が行われました。
     
     
     
    クレアシドニー事務所では、オーストラリア及びニュージーランドにおける日本の自治体の様々な活動を支援しています。活動支援のご希望がございましたら、どうぞお気軽にお問い合わせください。
  • 5月24日、メルボルン市の東方約15㎞に位置するホワイトホース市で「Japan Festival 2026」が開催されました。
    会場には、約100のブースや屋台が並び、日本の雑貨や工芸品、寿司やお好み焼きなどの日本食が販売されていたほか、折り紙や将棋などの体験コーナーも設けられていました。ステージでは、和太鼓やソーラン節、津軽三味線などの多彩なパフォーマンスのほか、着物やコスプレのコンテストなどが行われ、約5,500人の来場者で賑わっていました（主催者発表）。
     
     
     
    クレアシドニー事務所はブースを出展し、観光パンフレットなどを通じて日本各地の魅力をPRしました。来場者の中には、日本でのクルーズ旅行を予定している方や、「これまでに10回以上日本を訪れた」という方もおり、訪日旅行に対する旺盛な需要を感じました。また、日本への旅行をきっかけに、日本への移住を目指して日本語の学習を始めた方もいらっしゃるなど、日本での生活や文化に対する関心の高さもうかがえました。
     
     
     
    ホワイトホース市は、千葉県松戸市と今年、姉妹都市提携55周年という節目の年を迎えました。ホワイトホース市が所在するビクトリア州における日豪の姉妹都市関係の中で、最も長い歴史を誇ります。会場には、交流事業の一環として、松戸市民の方々が描いた絵手紙も展示されており、両市の深い絆を感じる機会となっていました。
     
  • 5月12日（火）、シドニーを拠点とするNSW州豪日協会（AJS-NSW）の主催により、日本関連学習優秀者表彰式が開催され、シドニー都市圏の7つの大学から推薦された7名の学生に表彰状が授与されました。
     
     
    　表彰後には、各受賞者が、日本語も交えながらスピーチを行い、日本語を学び始めたきっかけや日本語の魅力、学習する上での苦労、将来の目標などが語られました。「日本のゲーム会社で働くことを夢見て、日本語を学び始め、学習を続けている」、「日本の大学での交換留学を通じて、世界の様々な国や地域の友人に恵まれた」など、その内容は多岐にわたりました。いずれの学生も、「日本語学習により、その後の人生の選択肢や可能性が広がった」、「日本に関わる仕事に就くことや日本で生活することに向け、今後もさらなる挑戦を続けていく」と述べていました。
     
    　母語以外の言語を学び、習得することは、簡単なことではないと思いますが、日本語学習に前向きに取り組み、卒業後も日本との関わりを大切にしていきたいと語る学生の皆さんのスピーチに心を打たれました。
     
    　クレアシドニー事務所では、こうした日本語や日本文化を通じた人的交流や日豪関係のさらなる発展に向け、日本語教育機関をはじめとする関係機関との連携強化に引き続き取り組んでまいります。

  • Newsletter 5月特別号を掲載しました。