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【2025 Latest】Top 10 Popular YouTube Channels Featuring Traditional Crafts and Manufacturing

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【2025 Latest】Top 10 Popular YouTube Channels Featuring Traditional Crafts and Manufacturing

YouTube channels that showcase traditional crafts play an important role in spreading the value of Japanese traditional craftsmanship by introducing the skills of artisans and their creation processes through video.
This article introduces traditional craft-related YouTube channels in a ranking format as of April 2025.

*The data in this ranking is current as of April 13, 2025.

【2025 Latest】Top 10 Popular YouTube Channels Featuring Traditional Crafts

Below, we introduce the top 10 YouTube channels that focus on Japanese traditional crafts, ranked by number of subscribers. For each channel, we’ve summarized the number of subscribers, main features, number of videos, and operating entity.

1st Place: Process X

Process X is a popular YouTube channel from Japan with approximately 1.34 million subscribers, specializing in showcasing manufacturing processes from around the world. This channel operates under the concept of “We show you all the processes in the world,” making typically unseen manufacturing processes and craftsmanship accessible and easy to understand for viewers.

The video content covers a wide range, introducing advanced techniques by factories and craftsmen both in Japan and abroad, including steel plate processing, concrete pole manufacturing, and styrofoam production processes. Based in Japan and Korea, the channel plays a role in promoting the appeal of Japanese manufacturing to the world.

Beyond just manufacturing processes, the channel also covers technological innovations and historical aspects, allowing viewers to deepen their understanding of the products. For example, popular content includes impressive footage of thick plate manufacturing through iron scrap recycling and operations of electric furnaces that have been running for many years.

With high quality and expertise, the channel receives many interview requests from companies, demonstrating its significant influence. This channel is a must-watch for manufacturing enthusiasts and those interested in industrial technology.

2nd Place: Craftsmanship Process – SUIGENKYO

“Craftsmanship Process – SUIGENKYO” is a YouTube channel with approximately 498,000 subscribers that focuses on traditional crafts and artisanal skills.
The content introduces in detail the processes through which various Japanese artisans create their products using their unique techniques, conveying the beauty of these techniques and the passion of the craftspeople.
Viewers can learn about the behind-the-scenes aspects of traditional techniques that are rarely seen, deepening their understanding of Japanese culture and technology. The channel is known for its high-quality videos and careful explanations, and is highly valued for its educational content.

3rd Place: Japanese Industry

This channel is operated by “Journey Japan Crafts” and showcases Japanese traditional crafts, modern manufacturing, and craftsmanship to a global audience.
The channel visits factories and workshops throughout Japan, presenting a wide range of manufacturing sites from traditional techniques to the latest industrial processes in high-quality videos. Many videos feature English titles and subtitles, making the content accessible to international viewers.

Additionally, the operating entity Journey Japan Crafts is engaged in activities to convey the appeal of Japanese crafts and handmade products, spreading the depth of Japanese manufacturing culture and craftsmanship excellence worldwide through the channel.
This channel serves as a reliable source of information for those interested in Japanese traditional crafts and industrial technologies, as well as international viewers who want to learn about Japanese manufacturing.

4th Place: Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square

This is the official channel of “Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square,” a permanent exhibition hall in Akasaka, Tokyo, which disseminates information as a gallery and shop that brings together traditional crafts from all over Japan.

The channel introduces the production processes of various traditional crafts from across Japan through videos of artisans’ handwork. The aim is to spark viewers’ interest in traditional crafts by showing master craftsmen at work.
The videos primarily consist of a series titled “TEWAZA” (Hand Techniques), which are approximately 5-minute introductions to artisanal skills, with over 200 videos available.

5th Place: Kodawari (Dedication)

True to its name “Kodawari” (meaning dedication or commitment), this channel focuses on the meticulous attention to detail in Japanese manufacturing, craftsmanship, and production sites, carefully introducing behind-the-scenes manufacturing processes and traditional techniques that are not usually visible to the public.
The videos document product creation in factories and workshops, skilled handwork by artisans, and cutting-edge industrial technologies across a wide range of genres in high-quality footage. Viewers can experience the process of product creation and the passion and ingenuity that goes into it. A distinctive feature is the careful attention to atmosphere and detail that comes from being individually operated.

With numerous videos covering various industries and fields of manufacturing, the content is accessible and enjoyable not only for those interested in industrial technology and Japanese traditions but also for general viewers. This channel is recommended for those who want to learn about Japan’s technical capabilities and artisanal culture.

6th Place: Kyoto Kimono TV

This channel features program-style content focused on traditional Japanese clothing culture and lifestyle, centered around kimono.
Run by a group of kimono enthusiasts in Kyoto, the channel features series such as “The Three Easy Kimono Sisters,” which introduce kimono styling tips, trivia, and traditional events in an entertaining way.
With the concept of “Connecting kimono culture to Japan 100 years from now,” the channel also conducts viewer-participation live streaming events.

Additionally, the channel introduces the beautiful scenery and culture of Kyoto, as well as information about kimono-related events, conveying the charm of Kyoto through kimono. It contains information useful not only for kimono enthusiasts but also for those who are interested in wearing a kimono for the first time.
This channel is recommended for those who want to deepen their knowledge about kimono or are interested in traditional Japanese culture.

7th Place: Traditional Craft Idol Sakuraito

This is the official channel of “Sakuraito,” an idol group based in Fukui Prefecture that “supports traditional crafts.”
The members interview local traditional craftspeople and artisans, and produce videos and musical content to promote their appeal.
Formed in July 2019, they have been working to promote the appeal of traditional crafts as Japan’s only traditional craft idol group through concerts and media.
They conduct weekly regular YouTube live broadcasts and have published more than 1,000 videos (including live broadcast archives). The channel features unique projects that connect fans with craft production areas, such as music videos based on traditional crafts and giveaway campaigns (e.g., a Wakasa beef giveaway to celebrate reaching 10,000 subscribers).

8th Place: Nippon Teshigoto Encyclopedia

This is the official YouTube channel of the video project “Nippon Teshigoto Encyclopedia,” which calls itself “Japan’s most artisan-loving media.”
They record Japanese culture and craftsmanship that should be passed on to the future, and share documentaries of interviews with craftsmen and production sites.
The channel is characterized by content that conveys the “true voices” of artisans facing challenges such as successor shortages and the appeal of handcrafted work, as they travel to traditional craft production areas throughout Japan.
Since beginning activities in 2015, they have released more than 100 videos of artisans, which also connect with their successor internship program.
The videos are mostly in documentary format of about 10-20 minutes each, with over 300 currently available.

9th Place: Kyoto Traditional Crafts – Switchon’s Master Craftsmen Switch On!

This channel features YouTuber “Switchon,” who lives in the Kansai region and visits “master craftsmen” throughout Japan to enthusiastically introduce their traditions and techniques.
Centered on Kyoto, the channel covers various craftspeople including Japanese confectionery makers, potters, lacquer artists, and swordsmiths, with documentary-style content that conveys the impressiveness of craftsmanship and the fascination of tradition from a beginner’s perspective.
The channel includes videos that closely follow artisans and reveal their entire production process, collaboration projects, and commemorative live broadcasts.
With an approachable character and creative planning, Switchon has gradually increased their fan base and collaborates with local communities, serving as an unofficial PR ambassador for Kyoto’s traditional industries.

10th Place: Kumamoto City Kumamoto Craft Hall Official Channel

This is the official YouTube channel operated by “Kumamoto Craft Hall” located in Minami Ward, Kumamoto City.
The channel distributes information about special exhibitions of traditional crafts held at the hall and videos introducing local traditional craft techniques.
For example, they have posted valuable footage documenting the entire process of creating a sword guard using “Higo Zogan” (silver inlay), a nationally designated traditional craft, as well as short videos promoting regional traditional craft exhibitions (such as Chikuzen Hakata Ori Exhibition and Kumamoto Glass Craft Exhibition).

Conclusion

The world of traditional crafts has become more accessible and can be enjoyed more deeply through the YouTube platform. The channels featured in this ranking all carefully introduce the skills of craftspeople and the background of their works, serving as valuable sources of information for rediscovering the value of crafts.

It is expected that information dissemination through videos will continue to expand in the future, becoming an essential resource for those considering collecting or investing in traditional crafts.

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We are a group of experts dedicated to showcasing the beauty of Japanese traditional crafts to the world. Our exploration of Japan's craft culture spans a wide range, from works by Living National Treasures and renowned artists to the preservation of traditional techniques and the latest trends in craftsmanship. Through "Kogei Japonica," we introduce a new world of crafts where tradition and innovation merge, serving as a bridge to connect the future of Japanese traditional culture with the global community.

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