Folk-art of Mashiko ware is characterized by its warmth unique to earthenware that you feel when you hold one in your hand. Mashiko ware began in the late Edo period, when Keizaburo Otsuka, a potter studied at Kasama pottery town opened his own kiln in Mashiko Town, Tochigi Pref.. Since then its high quality clay proximity to Tokyo the town developed as a producing place of everyday articles such as pots or water jars. It was not until 1930, however, that Mashiko gained national fame, when a studio potter Shoji Hamada was designated a Living National Treasure. Hamada gave a great influence on local potters and they began to produce artistic ceramic works as well. At present there are 380 kilns and 50 pottery shops in the town. Fascinated by “beautility” and warmth of Mashiko style daily articles such as tea cups or plates, a lot of potters have now come to live in this town for friendly competition.

In Ichikai Town, Tochigi Pref. there is a custom of setting out Mushae-nobori (labrums with a warrior painting) as the decoration of Tango-no-sekku on May 5 with the wish for the boy’s sound growth and success in life. The Ohata family, who had been the castellan of Ohata Castle in Kozuke region, ran a dye house in the Edo period. It is said that the Ohatas dyed the costume worn by masterless warriors of Ako-han on the day of their Uchiiri (revenge raid). The Ohatas began to make Mushae-nobori in 1889, and the traditional craft has been handed down through three generations. In the old days every picture was painted by hand but now they use both hand painting and stencil dyeing in which thirty stencils are used for one picture. The images are selected from portraits of  famous warriors such as Shingen Takeda, Kenshin Uesugi, Nobunaga Oda and Hideyoshi Toyoyomi. The faces are all gallant and graceful and the fine touches of painting-brush given at the beard are especially fantastic. The picture gives such a strong impact that you can sense the breath of those wartime warriors.

Yuki-tsumugi manufactured in and around Yuki City, Ibaragi Pref. is the oldest and　most expensive tsumugi (the high-class silk fabrics) in Japan. It was designated as the important intangible cultural heritage in 1956. Its history dates back to the Nara period (710−794). In the Kamakura period it was called Hitachi-tsumugi but it changed the name when the craft received the patronage of the local lord of Yuki. The name of Yuki tsumugi became very popular all through the country when the warriors in the Edo period favored its fine-striped tsumugi. The craft was developed in the modern era and the highest quality of tsumugi was possible due to the progress in **. Yuki tsumugi is light and warm. As you wear it longer, it will more rightly fit in your body. The making of it is divided into many procedures but from its simple appearance we can’t imagine that ingenious master skills are hidden behind it.

Sano City, Tochigi Pref. has been known as a producing district of iron works since old times and artistic handicraft cast iron works made in this area are called Tenmyo cast iron works. Its history dates back to about 1,000 years ago. Tenmyo iron ware is said to have begun when Hidesato Fujiwara, who had brought the Masakado’s rebellion under control in 939 and became the first castellan of Karasawa Castle, called five excellent iron workers from Kyoto to cast weapons. After the battles the ironworkers settled down near Sano area played leading roles in casting iron and began to make daily necessities, Buddhist altar fittings and tea ceremony kettles. Since then Tenmyo cast iron works had taken the way to its prosperity through the periods of the Heian, the Kamakura and the Edo handed down by generation to generation. The beauty of Tenmyo works including copper ware with beautiful red color, strong but elegant tea ceremony kettles and massive paperweights all fascinate people all over the country.

Tochigi bamboo craft of Otawara, Tochigi Pref. was designated as Important Intangible Cultural Heritage in 1982. At present Katsushiro is the designated bearer. There are a lot of bamboo groves in the city of Otawara, so people have been actively engaged in bamboo craft from ancient days. However it was in 1972 when excellent bamboo of Otawara was selected as food for the pandas presented by the Chinese government as the token of Japan-China friendship that Otawara bamboo came to be known all over the country. In the old days items for daily use such as baskets for agricultural use, backpacking baskets for woodcutters and fishing rods were made, most of which are no longer used but are still made as “articles of folk craft.” Nowadays items suited for modern life including flower vessels, bags and cell-phone cases are also made and very popular among the people who love “real stuff.”

Tobe pottery is one of Ehime Prefecture’s traditional crafts. Its simple design in deep indigo on pure white rather thick porcelain of uncomplicated form is very impressive. Tobe pottery is said to have begun in the 6th or 7th century. Pottery started in this area such a long time ago because the mountainside of Tobe Basin was suited for building kilns and since surrounded by rich forests it was easy to get plenty of firewood. The indigo blue patterns of flowering grasses drawn with strong touches of brushes against simple white porcelain have been handed down from the predecessors. Its simple and plain design, which gives warm and familiar impression and its beautiful but practical shape are appreciated by many enthusiasts. Nowadays there are a lot of woman  potters in Tobe area and the works adopting new materials　and modern designs also attract people’s　attention.

Ehime Prefecture is known as a place where high-grade bamboo grow. So the bamboo ware of Iyo bamboo craft takes on more atmosphere as you use it longer. Iyo Bamboo craft has a long history, and is said to have begun in the 7th century when Prince Shotoku visited Dogo Hot spring, and noticed the plentiful growth of bamboo in the area, and taught the local people how to weave baskets. The craft had been developed through the periods of the Nara, the Kamakura and the Muromachi, and in the Edo period (1603-1867) these handmade objects were highly esteemed as flower arrangements and tea ceremony utensils. The handmade processes of bamboo ware is all tedious and painstaking tasks, where Japanese delicate sensibility is made most of. A cut bamboo is bleached in water, then smudges on the surface are removed and oil content is removed with chemicals; next, it is given higowari (split into small strips) and bleached again or dyed; finally the strips are polished and woven by hand. Now many creative craftsmen are actively trying to develop new products in the field of interior or fashion design.

Sakurai lacquer ware is one of Ehime Prefecture's designated traditional craft and has a long history, which began in the Edo period (1603-1867). According to the record, there were seven lacquerers including Monzaemon Tsukihara in as early as 1828. When the craft first began, so-called “Shunkei” style was adopted and it was used for inexpensive ware for common, daily use. However, during the Tempo　era (1830−1843), the distinctive “kushizashi” method of joining the four corners of jubako (stacked lacquer ware boxes) by adding comb-teeth shaped parts to the bottoms of the corners was developed, which gave the Sakurai lacquer ware a unique quality. With this progress, the Sakurai lacquer ware, which had been unknown for a long time, were well known throughout Japan. Further development continued with the invitation of experienced and talented lacquer ware craftsmen from other regions of Wajima and Kishu, improving lacquer finishes skills such as “chinkin” (gold foil) and “makie” (gold and silver powder), which were taken over up to the present. You can see the 200 years of history and the craftsmen’s progressive spirit in this proud traditional craft.