Preserving Kyoto's Priceless Traditional Crafts Together

The Startling Truth in Numbers

Kyoto has come to be known as the cultural capital of Japan. It has 20% of Japanese national treasures, 14% of its important cultural assets and 17 UNESCO world heritage sites. However, did you know it is also home to 74 diverse traditional craft industries?

These age-old craft industries, that still function today, use traditional techniques passed down from generation to generation. These crafts can be seen in everyday life in Kyoto and despite their enduring legacy, these traditions face an uncertain future and are at risk of being lost forever.

If you have had the opportunity to visit Kyoto, chances are you’ve encountered some of these beautiful crafts. One of the most notable of these crafts is the Kimono, the national dress of Japan. Kimonos are made using multiple traditional techniques and require a variety of these traditional crafts. To provide further insight into these crafts and the challenges they face, we will explore two components that are integral to the creation of a traditional kimono.

The first craft we will explore is Nishijin-ori. Nishijin-ori is a weaving technique which uses dyed silk threads to produce intricate patterns. These intricate patterns are created by thousands of intersecting vertical and horizontal threads, utilizing specialized traditional machinery and tools. The craft is passed down from generation to generation and requires a highly skilled team of artisans to create these beautiful patterns. Nishijin-ori is globally recognized and appreciated for its skill, beauty and longevity. 

The second is Kyoto Yuzen or “Yuzen.” Yuzen is the traditional fabric dyeing technique developed during the Edo period. This technique is seen in the colors, patterns and imagery that are directly applied onto kimonos. Miyazaki Yuzen, initially a traditional fan painter, refined this dyeing process by incorporating hand painted techniques. This innovation allowed designs to be painted directly onto the fabrics. This added versatility to the designs and allowed more complex designs to be created. This can be seen on the kimonos of past and present. 

Kimonos and Obis are more than a piece of clothing. They are a cherished generational heirloom that is often passed down from parent to child. The techniques used to dye and make these beautiful garments involve the highest quality silk and meticulous craftsmanship, ensuring they last for generations. The designs on these garments are more than just pleasing to the eye, they carry meaning, stories and the history of the nation.

The Crisis of Losing These Traditional Crafts

The Startling Truth in Numbers

The Startling Truth in Numbers

Nishijin-Ori and Yuzen represent just two examples of the 74 crafts that unfortunately teeter on the edge of being lost forever. In an ever-changing consumer landscape, we have begun to value quantity over quality. In the age of mass machine production, an increased accessibility to a large variety of cheap products and lack of successors to learn these generational crafts, we are at risk of losing these traditional skills forever.

Kyoto’s traditional industries are facing a continued decrease in production and popularity due to these changes. This can be seen in the charts below, illustrating the steep decline in production of Nishijin-ori and Yuzen over the years.

Kyoto’s traditional industries are an integral part of Japanese history and culture. The products crafted by these skilled artisans are used in shrines, temples, tea ceremonies, flower arrangements, Kyogen, Noh, as well as many other culturally significant aspects of Kyoto and Japanese culture.

As the industries continue to experience these significant declines, the art of creating these items may be lost forever, as finding successors to learn these generational crafts becomes increasingly challenging. Losing these traditions will be a serious loss for Kyoto and Japan, as we will be losing a significant piece of Japanese heritage and cultural identity that the world has come to cherish and appreciate.

For The Next Generation of Artisans

There is still hope for the future. Kyoto is working hard to ensure that this vital part of its cultural identity isn’t lost. Kyoto City is collaborating with these skilled artisans to reinvigorate these industries for generations to come. This is being accomplished through education, initiatives and sponsored employment pathways to attract new, young, dynamic artisans into these traditional industry sectors. This will ensure that these highly skilled techniques are passed down and not lost.

How You Can Help

Protecting the Traditional Crafts Protecting Starts with You

The Startling Truth in Numbers

Kyoto City is working hard to ensure these crafts are not lost forever. However, we need your help to ensure the continued sustainability of these traditional industries. We are seeking donations to help finance these initiatives aimed at protecting Kyoto’s cultural heritage and identity, which the world has come to love.

Your contributions will go towards the Supporting Young Artisans Project which provides think tanks, exhibitions and works shops as well as sponsorship support to young artisans learning these traditional crafts.

For example, a sponsorship of 200,000 yen can support a young artisans’ training for one year.

What your donation will be used for (in the case of supporting young artisan projects).

Many young artisans are awaiting your much needed sponsorship. Your donation will not only support these traditional industries but will also have a significant impact on Kyoto’s future and the preservation of its cultural identity for centuries to come.

Please donate today, through the links below to preserve the beauty of Kyoto.