[Regularly Updated] Recommended Japanese Traditional Craft Companies List

There are numerous companies and organizations throughout Japan that handle the promotion, preservation, and traditional crafts business.
From artisan support and regional promotion to consumer education and awareness, each plays a role in supporting craft culture from their respective positions.

This article introduces major corporations and organizations involved in traditional crafts in a comprehensive list, clearly summarizing their characteristics and activities.
Please use this as a reference for purchasing craft items, learning, and business partnerships.

List of Recommended Traditional Crafts Companies

Throughout Japan, there are numerous corporations that inherit traditional crafts with long histories and high technical skills while developing products and services suited to modern lifestyles. Here, we carefully select and introduce representative companies that are rooted in their regions yet receive high acclaim both domestically and internationally.

We have included each company’s characteristics, craft genres they handle, business content, regional bases, and links to their official websites, so please make use of this information for business, tourism, academic research, and more.

Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten Co., Ltd. (Nara | Lifestyle Goods・Regional Partnerships)

A long-established company founded in 1716. Rooted in Nara’s hemp textiles, they develop lifestyle goods utilizing traditional techniques.
To realize “Energizing Japanese Crafts!”, Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten works with production areas nationwide through four core business pillars.

• Business content: Manufacturing and retail business, education business, consulting business, regional revitalization business
• Location (head office): 1112-1 Higashikujo-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture 630-8144
• Official website: https://www.nakagawa-masashichi.jp/shop/pages/about_en.aspx

Nousaku Corporation (Toyama | Takaoka Copperware)

Nousaku, a casting manufacturer in Toyama Prefecture founded in 1916.
They offer factory tours and hands-on experiences making tin sake cups and other items. Focusing on Buddhist altar fittings, tea ceremony utensils, and flower vases, they continue to convey the appeal of Takaoka copperware, a traditional craft, to the present day through interior goods, tableware, lighting, and objects.
They also have experience facilities and a café on-site.

• Business content: Manufacturing and sales of 100% tin tableware, interior goods, Buddhist altar fittings, tea ceremony utensils, flower vases, and other casting products in general; manufacturing and sales of tin jewelry; industrial tourism business; tin wedding business
• Location (head office/factory): 8-1 Office Park, Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture 939-1119
• Official website: https://www.nousaku.co.jp/en/

Gyokusendo Co., Ltd. (Niigata | Tsuiki Copperware)

A long-established company founded in 1816, specializing in tsuiki copperware (hammered copperware).
They inherit traditional techniques of hammering metal into shape and create tea utensils, sake vessels, and more. They represent the craft companies of the Tsubame-Sanjo region.

• Business content: Manufacturing and sales of tsuiki copperware, store operations, overseas expansion, factory tours
• Location (Gyokusendo Tsubame Main Store): 2-2-21 Chuo-dori, Tsubame City, Niigata Prefecture 959-1244
• Official website: https://www.gyokusendo.com/en/

Hakuichi Co., Ltd. (Ishikawa | Kanazawa Gold Leaf)

A Kanazawa gold leaf manufacturer founded in 1975.
Through “Kanazawa Gold Leaf,” Hakuichi realizes new expression methods across a wide range of business fields from crafts to cosmetics, food, and architecture, delivering the culture of brilliance that adds innovation to the traditions nurtured in Kanazawa.

• Business content: Manufacturing and sales of Kanazawa gold leaf / Development, manufacturing, and sales of Kanazawa gold leaf products / Planning, design, and construction of building material decoration / Operation of tourist facilities
• Location (head office): 2-1-1 Morito, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture 921-8061
• Official website: https://enkanazawa.hakuichi.co.jp/

Hakusan Porcelain Co., Ltd. (Nagasaki | Hasami Ware)

A highly designed Hasami ware manufacturer based in Hasami-cho, Nagasaki Prefecture.
Multiple Good Design Award winner.
Hakusan Porcelain originates from a kiln established in 1779 in Nakao-go, Hasami-cho, Nagasaki Prefecture. Hakusan Seitosho Co., Ltd. was established in 1951, and Hakusan Porcelain Co., Ltd. was established in 1958. With the theme of “above all, being easy to use and fitting into daily life,” they consistently produce all processes from design development to molding, painting, glazing, and firing in their own factory.

• Business content: Manufacturing of ceramics (tableware, etc.)
• Location: 1334 Yunashida-go, Hasami-cho, Higashisonogi-gun, Nagasaki Prefecture 859-3702
• Official website: https://www.saranyc.com/collections/hakusan

Kurotani Washi Cooperative (Kyoto | Kurotani Washi)

The Kurotani Washi Cooperative is an organization that produces hand-made washi paper called “Kurotani Washi” with approximately 800 years of history in the Kurotani district of Ayabe City, Kyoto Prefecture.
The cooperative consists of 11 paper-making artisans, and their washi is characterized by being strong and tear-resistant. The produced washi is processed and distributed nationwide through the cooperative.

• Business content: Manufacturing and sales of washi paper, technical succession, regional promotion, experience events, new product development, human resource development, facility and tool repair
• Location: 3 Higashitani, Kurotani-cho, Ayabe City, Kyoto Prefecture 623-0108
• Official website: https://kurotaniwashi.kyoto/en/

Nakanishi Kougei Co., Ltd. (Wakayama | Kishu Lacquerware)

Nakanishi Kougei Co., Ltd. is a lacquerware manufacturing and wholesale company based in Kainan City, Wakayama Prefecture.
Founded in 1950. Utilizing traditional techniques from Kuroe, they manufacture diverse lacquerware from household to commercial use. They also respond to modern needs with OEM and silk printing services.
They handle the manufacturing of Kishu lacquerware and creative lacquer art, and also publish the catalog “MAKOTO.”

• Business content: Manufacturing and wholesale of lacquerware, exhibition and event venue setup, collaboration with other industries
• Location: 663-1 Okada, Kainan City, Wakayama Prefecture 642-0012
• Official website: http://www.nakanishi-kougei.com/

Oak Village Corporation (Gifu | Hida Woodworking)

A woodworking brand based in Hida Takayama that handles furniture, architecture, and wooden toys using domestic timber.
Oak Village Corporation is a company based in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, that handles crafts, furniture, and wooden architecture using domestic solid wood.
Founded in 1974, they aim for a sustainable society and uphold the philosophy of creating products in symbiosis with forests.

• Business content: Furniture, wooden lifestyle products, wooden architecture, aromatics
• Location (head office): 846 Makigahora, Kiyomi-cho, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture 506-0101
• Official website: https://www.oakv.co.jp/en/

Satsuma Vidro Craft Co., Ltd. (Kagoshima | Satsuma Kiriko)

Founded in 1985, a glass craft manufacturer that restored Satsuma Kiriko to the modern era. They have a workshop tour and direct store attached.
Satsuma Vidro Craft Co., Ltd. is a glass craft company based in Satsuma-cho, Satsuma-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture, particularly engaged in the restoration of Satsuma Kiriko and creating new works. Known as a workshop that handles everything from glass melting, they consistently perform all processes from manufacturing the crystal glass that becomes the base material to colored glass coloring and cutting.

• Business content: Manufacturing and sales of Satsuma Kiriko, glass craft experiences, workshop tours, workshop with melting furnace, handmade one-of-a-kind pieces
• Location (head office): 5665-5 Nagano, Satsuma-cho, Satsuma-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture 895-2203
• Official website: https://en.thebecos.com/collections/satuma-vidro

RGC Co., Ltd. (Okinawa | Ryukyu Glass)

Ryukyu Glass Village is a Ryukyu glass workshop and sales facility in Itoman City, Okinawa Prefecture, operated by RGC Co., Ltd.
It originated from the “Ryukyu Glass Craft Cooperative Association” established in 1983 through the merger of six Ryukyu glass workshops in the central and southern parts of the prefecture, opening a joint workshop and exhibition hall in 1985. Later, it changed its organization to a corporation and became “RGC Co., Ltd.” in 2016.
It is characterized by colorful vessels made from recycled glass and serves as a hub connecting tourism and industry.

• Business content: Manufacturing and sales of Ryukyu glass, operation of tourist facilities, holding experience classes, wholesale sales
• Location: 169 Fukuchi, Itoman City, Okinawa Prefecture 901-0345
• Official website: https://www.ryukyu-glass.co.jp/en/craft/

Summary

This article has carefully selected and introduced traditional craft corporations and organizations from across the nation.
All of these companies and organizations develop unique initiatives that balance the inheritance of traditional techniques with their application to modern times, serving as clues for rediscovering the value of craft items.

Additionally, through highly reliable information and technical inheritance operated by corporations, you can experience the voices of artisans, the current state of production areas, and the potential as an industry.
Please make use of this article as an information source when considering craft procurement, academic research, tourism planning, or incorporating crafts into daily life.