Japanese Crafts: 10 Amazing Traditional Artforms From Gunma Prefecture

1. The Takasaki Maneki-Neko (Beckoning Cat)

The original Beckoning cat would be a piece of pottery, but the ones handcrafted are actually papier‐mâché, or in other words, made out of paper. Since the sericultural industry once boomed in this area of Kanto, many people wished to god so that the mice wouldn't attack their monetary source, silkworms, they started making paper beckoning cats to drive away these predators. They were also used as toys.

2. Takasaki Daruma

A lucky charm, the daruma is crafted all across Japan having distinctive characteristics depending on region to region. In Takasaki, they usually insert "thriving business", "pray for good household" into the shoulders and put "happiness and prosperity" into the belly to wave in good spirits, and pray to become fortunate. After they make a purchase, they paint a black dot in the right eye upon making a wish, and if the wish actually is realized, they would put in a dot on the other side.

3. Gunma Kokeshi Dolls

Simplistic yet expressive, the kokeshi doll is widely appreciated as a wonderful gift. Given the fact that Gunma used to be the major producer for toys, it's counted as one of the most famous makers of original kokeshi dolls.

4. Silk Products

Once you brush your body up with these silk products, you'll definitely get a skin-touch as smooth as silk. Silk socks are also highly recommended.

5. Kiryu Fabrics

Kiryuu Fabrics have been produced for over 1300 years. They've kept on producing Kimono textures using their special silk, but nowadays, they are highly praised for their woven knitwear made by high-quality and high-standard weaving techniques. Why wouldn't anyone use accessories made out of handmade beautiful cloth in their everyday lives?

6. Joshu-Takasaki Hand Towels

In Takasaki, they use a skill called Tyusen, or dying a piece of cloth and designing the cloth by undergoing the process of resist painting. Since they hand-print the cloth using dress patterns, the tenugui has a conspicuous and handmade tone unlike printed by a machine.

7. Kon-Kon Slippers

Woven into the shape of a slipper by using straw and sedge with a cloth in-between, these are called Kon-Kon slippers because throughout the process they use a hammer to mend the slippers, producing the sound "kon-kon." The colors are bright and have a beautiful tint, and the stitches that stimulate the sole of your foot makes this slipper irresistible.

8. Numata Paulownia Wood Clogs

Made with high-quality paulownia wood and hand-carved, these wooden clogs, or getas, are only made at one place in Numata City, Gunma Prefecture. These getas are durable, light-weight, and comfortable, and their elegance is beyond description.

9. Iriyama Bento Boxes (Iriyama Menpa)

A Menpa is only made of wood, not even a single nail is used to make these oval boxes. Rich in breathability, these boxes gently preserve the food kept inside. Once you decorate the boxes with bits of cheese, nuts and candies, you may actually feel that they taste way better than usual.

10. Wooden Decorations (Kumiko) Kiryuu Joinery

A kumiko is a technique used to combine wood without using any metal, and it has been used over generations in Japanese architecture, especially for sliding doors (syouji/fusuma). The technique is leveraged and is utilized in these handcrafts by adjusting by units even smaller than millimeters. These delicate crafts would never make anyone bored.

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