Japan's traditional craft industries are on the down slope now. Some reasons are; the difficulty in getting the raw materials such as Japanese lacquer, wood, and potter's clay, mass production and mass consumption brought about by technical innovation has accelerated the spread of disposable low-cost products, and the change in Japan's economic structure which has brought about a change in people's lifestyle. The situation is complicated.

However, Japan's fast-moving society is beginning to see more value in the traditional craft items because of the difficulty in getting the materials and the growing demand in handmade products. With the increasing needs for high-quality products, which bring about 'comfort' and 'real affluence', Japanese traditional crafts are getting more attention again as very important cultural assets. We are proud of Japan's traditional crafts. We want to show them and make them available to the rest of the world.

Now, let me explain what "Japanese traditional craft arts" are:

Generally, Japanese traditional craft is called "Dento-kogeihin". It has an another name, "Dento-teki-kogeihin". In Japanese law it is referred to as, "Dento-teki-kogeihin-sangyo-no-sinko-ni-kansuru-horitsu" ("Densan-ho" abbreviated) The law regulates the promotion of the Japanese traditional craft industry. By adding "Teki" to the word, "Dento-kogeihin," Japanese traditional craft is defined as - a craft that has the particular materials and the special techniques which are inherited and characterize itself, and that tries to improve and match the industrial environment and the needs of people without losing the characteristic(s).

The law requires that "Dento-teki-kogeihin" meets the following conditions:

1. Must be used in daily life: Such as a marriage, funeral, seasonal, or coming-of-age ceremony.. This means it is based on daily life. "Kogeihin" and "Yo-no-bi", mean a beauty of work in Japanese. When many people use and watch something for a very long time, its work and use gets better. It's color, pattern, and form are influenced deeply by Japanese life style, traditional culture.

2. Must be handmade: All parts of it don't have to be handmade, but the part that has the characteristic such as its quality, form, design, and/or technique of creation must be handmade. Using a machine in an auxiliary making process is allowed, if its characteristics is not lost. All products are made through the process of human touch. Therefore their size and form are ergonomic, appropriate, and safe.

3. Must be made by traditional techniques and technology: "Traditional" means a continuation of more than 100 years. It is thought that technique and technology of "Kogeihin" are established by many craftsmen trying, failing, and improving for more than 100 years. Gizyutsu (technique in Japanese) and Giho (technology in Japanese) are inseparable from each other. Gizyutsu generally means a craftsman's skill and precision, and Giho generally means the historical know-how and continuation of the process from selecting materials to making. Traditional technique and technology may be improved and developed if they don't degrade the characteristics of the product.

4. Must have materials that are used traditionally: This is similar to number 3 above, the materials must have been used and examined carefully for more than 100 years and be matched to humans and nature. Some of the materials are now scarce and difficult to obtain. In these cases, changing to the material is allowed if it doesn't drastically change the product's characteristics.

5. A production district must be formed: A production district must be formed where certain craftsmen may work and business be conducted. "Certain craftsmen" is normally 30 craftsmen or 10 firms. Success of some firms is not enough to form a producing district. Reliability, confidence and responsibility of all people in the district are required.

As of March, 2003, there are 203 different crafts which the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry designates as "Dento-teki-kogeihin" in Japan.

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