Ever wonder why certain Japanese crafts frequently appear in your feed while others remain hidden?
Some traditional crafts receive significant recognition and support, while many others, despite their deep heritage and highly-skills artisans, struggle in obscurity despite their deep-rooted traditions.
You may have come across the broad term "dento kogei" (伝統工芸, traditional crafts) when learning about Japan’s rich artisanal heritage. However, within this broad category, there is a specific designation: "National Traditional Craft" (国指定伝統的工芸品, Dento Kogeihin). This title is awarded by the Japanese government (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, METI) to crafts that meet strict criteria, making them eligible for government-backed promotional programs, international marketing opportunities, and funding support.
What Qualifies as a Japan National Traditional Craft (dento kogei) ?
To be officially certified as a Japan's "National Traditional Craft" (国指定伝統的工芸品, Dento Kogei hin) under the Act on the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries (1974), a craft must meet five key criteria:
Handcrafted Process
The main part of the production process must be done by hand, rather than relying on mass production or industrial machinery.
Traditional Techniques
The craft must use techniques and methods that have been passed down for at least 100 years within a specific region.
Traditional Materials
The raw materials used must be the same or similar to those historically used.
Regional Production Industry
The craft must be actively produced in a specific region, with a recognized community of artisans who rely on it as a livelihood.
Functionality
The product must have practical, everyday use rather than being purely decorative or artistic.
Once certified, these crafts receive national-level support, including eligibility for government funding, use of logo mark for branding, promotional campaigns, and international trade show exposure. However, this system largely benefits crafts that already have an established artisan community, making it difficult for endangered or smaller-scale crafts to gain the same recognition and resources.
What Happens to Crafts That Don’t Qualify?
While this system plays a crucial role in preserving Japan’s craft heritage, it also raises important questions—what happens to equally valuable crafts that don’t fit the criteria?
One key requirement for Dento Kogeihin status is the presence of an organized community of artisans working together in a designated region. This makes sense—sustainability often depends on a network rather than a single artisan. However, what happens to the crafts with only a handful of remaining practitioners? Those without enough numbers to form a cooperative? They may never qualify, no matter how remarkable their work is.
The Case of Hakata Magemono: A Craft on the Brink
While this certification helps sustain well-known crafts, many equally historic crafts do not receive the same level of attention or support. Some may have fewer artisans left, lack the necessary regional industry infrastructure, or simply not fit all five criteria. Crafts that are designated only as prefectural dento kogeihin (県指定伝統的工芸品) or are not formally recognized at all often struggle to gain visibility and funding.
Take Hakata Magemono, a bentwood craft with a history spanning over 400 years in Hakata region. Once a thriving tradition, it now has only one active artisan left. With so few practitioners, the craft could not qualify for National Dento Kogeihin status, making it harder to attract subsidies, apprentices, or recognition. Meanwhile, Akita Magewappa, a similar bentwood craft in Akita region, with a structured artisan community, benefits from government support, thus becoming more “discoverable” by international audience, allowing it to grow and reach international markets.
This is not to say that one deserves support over the other—both crafts are valuable and represent important aspects of Japan’s heritage. But it does raise the question: should funding and promotion be distributed based on numbers, or should endangered crafts with only one or two remaining artisans receive priority?
The Gaps in the System: Who Fills Them?
No system is perfect, and the Dento Kogei-hin framework is no exception. It was designed to uphold standards and traditions, but Japan’s craft landscape is constantly shifting. Some industries, like Daigo urushi lacquer, produces Japan’s highest-quality lacquer but struggle to compete with better-supported regions due to the sheer difference in the number of active artisans. With limited resources and visibility, these smaller craft communities face a vicious cycle—without recognition, they struggle to attract new artisans, and without new artisans, they continue to decline.
Government systems cannot cover every gap, and preserving Japan’s craft heritage is a big responsibility—one too large for any single entity to bear. But as individuals, consumers, and social entrepreneurs, there are things we can do to help fill these gaps. Seeking out independent artisans, purchasing directly from them, sharing their stories, and questioning what we see in mainstream and social media all contribute to a more balanced appreciation of Japan’s handmade traditions.
How We Can Help Bridge the Gaps
Next time you come across a post for a well-known Japanese craft, ask yourself:
Why am I seeing this so often?
What systems and funding are behind its visibility?
And most importantly, what crafts and artisans are missing from this picture?
Government systems cannot cover every gap, and preserving Japan’s craft heritage is a big responsibility—one too large for any single entity to bear. But as individuals, social-conscious consumers, and social entrepreneurs, there are things we can do to help:
Seek out independent artisans and purchase their goods.
Share their stories on social media and beyond. Widen their publicity.
Question mainstream and social media narratives and explore lesser-known crafts.
Support crafts at risk of disappearing, not just those that are already famous.
Support businesses with social responsible mission in craft revitalization
By digging deeper, seeking out lesser-known crafts, and supporting independent artisans, we can help ensure that Japan’s endangered crafts do not fade into obscurity.
Preserving Japan’s craft heritage is a big responsibility, and no system covers all grounds. But through mindful support and appreciation, we can help cover the gaps—ensuring that these traditions, whether nationally recognized or not, continue to thrive for generations to come.
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