New Designation of Nibutani-ita, Nibutani-attoushi, and Kishu-herazao As Traditional Crafts under the Act on the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries

Concerning the new designation of Nibutani-ita wooden trays and Nibutani-attoushi textiles made in Hokkaido Prefecture, and Kishu-herazao fishing rods made in Wakayama Prefecture, on February 7, 2013, the Designation Subcommittee of the Traditional Craft Industry Committee, Industrial Structure Council, which is chaired by Mr. Ryohei Miyata, President of Tokyo University of the Arts, examined these crafts and decided to newly designate them as traditional crafts. On March 8, 2013, this designation was announced by public notice and the crafts are listed as items designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (for the previous results of the examinations, please see Appendix 1(PDF:233KB) (in Japanese)). The number of designated traditional crafts now totals 215 items, of which the Nibutani-ita and Nibutani-attoushi are the first items to be designated from Hokkaido Prefecture, and items from Wakayama Prefecture reaching a total of 3 (for the list of the designated items, please see Appendix 2(PDF:288KB) (in Japanese)).

1) Nibutani-ita wooden trays

Nibutani-ita are flat, shallow trays made of wood, whose tradition has been passed down for many years in the area around the Sarugawa River in Hokkaido Prefecture. Nibutani-ita are characterized by their spiral Moreunoka patterns, and Ramuramunoka carved fish-scale patterns, which are designs unique to the Ainu people.

2) Nibutani-attoushi textiles

Nibutani-attoushi is a type of textile passed down from long ago in the area around the Sarugawa River in Hokkaido Prefecture woven from yarn made of the internal skin of the bark of Ulmus laciniata, or lobed elm, and other trees. Nibutani-attoushi is characterized by its excellence in waterproofness and breathability, as well as durability, a rare feature for natural fabrics, as well as its unique texture. The textiles are often manufactured into Kimono, Hanten short coat, aprons, Obi belts, and small articles.

3) Kishu-herazao fishing rods

Kishu-herazao are fishing rods made from natural bamboo in Hashimoto City, Wakayama Prefecture. Kishu-herazao are used exclusively for catching white crucian carp (called herabuna) and are manufactured by highly-skilled craftspersons specialized in making the rods. Most of the Kishu-herazao are made in this region of Japan.
Since the herabuna fishing boom arrived in the early Showa era, crafting herabuna fishing rods has taken root in the region. In 1988, Kishu-herazao was the first craft to be designated as a traditional craft by Wakayama Prefecture.

This act aims to provide rich and affluent living to the public and contribute to the succession of traditional skills and techniques to the next generation, as well as to the economic development and creation of employment in the region, through the promotion of traditional craft industries. Traditional crafts that are designated* under the Act are subject to various types of promotion policies under the Act (for excerpts from the Act, see Appendix 3(PDF:315KB) (in Japanese)).

*Five requirements should be satisfied for designation: the craft should be: [i] a daily commodity, [ii] hand-made, [iii] made using a traditional skill or technique continued for the last 100 years or more, [iv] made of raw material which has been used traditionally, and [v] created in a particular area.

March 8, 2013

Traditional Craft Industry Office, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau