Artcraft Japan Corp.

Girl Doll, another name is Oyama doll, is typical Japanese doll dressed in a beautiful costume and it expresses woman's beauty and graceful figure. This kind of doll has been produced since the Edo period. It has been loved so much by people. An Oyama doll is made based on the costume of an era, many of which are mainly ideas from Noh play or Kabuki dancing.
In Japanese doll category, higher quality dolls made in Kyoto is called Kyo Doll. Kyoto has been one of the main doll-producing districts in Japan from the past. The dolls wear typically high-quality fabrics such as Nishijin silk or cloth using Yuzen-style dyeing, which textiles are also produced in Kyoto.

Noh doll / Kabuki doll are the dolls copying the characters from Noh play or Kabuki dancing. Each of them has its noh / kabuki story. Must be interesting to know the story behind the dolls.

Hakata doll is a clay doll made around Hakata district in Fukuoka prefecture in Kyusyu region. It is said that the old history of Hakata doll goes back to the first period of the Edo period. Hakata doll is made from the clay gathered in the suburbs of Hakata. it is used for shaping figures. After the clay is shaped into a figure, it is baked at low temperature and the colors are painted beautifully on its surface.

Samurai families started to display Armor and Helmet to celebrate the birth of a boy. The birth of an heir is very important in Samurai world in order to keep the family succeeded and prosper beyond generations. For Samurai, Armor and Helmet is the most important treasure that has spiritual meanings as Samurai symbol as well as the critical equipment to protect their body. So, by displaying their treasure, Armor and Helmet, at the birth of an heir boy, Samurai prays the boy grows strong and brave.
Later in Edo period, these Armor and Helmet became smaller to better suit for in-house display. On the red carpet to ward off evil, together with sword and bow & arrow, Samurai display magnificent Samurai Armor and Helmet for their boys. This tradition comes down to our generation and can enjoy the beauty of Samurai Armor art in reasonable size as well as feel the Samurai sprit.

Ancient, yet practical Japanese lamp is made from bamboo and paper. The warm light suits any style of room and can create healing space. Hand-made one by one.

Manufacturing

• Early winter, choose and cut down bamboos
• Air out for 1-2 months to extract water somewhat
• Put bamboo into boiled water
• Quickly wipe out surface one by one to clean extracted oil up
• Expose to the sun for drying for months
• Now ready to manufacture bamboo products!

About Plug type

Japan is "A" type. You may need to buy "Plug Converter"

Ukiyo-e is a genre of Japanese woodblock prints produced mainly in Edo Era. It depicts landscapes, tales from history, the theater, people face, and pleasure quarters. Usually the word "ukiyo" is literally translated as "floating world" in English, which means fleeting world. "e" is a picture. So Ukiyo-e is picture of the floating world. Ukiyo-e is said the very best for Japanese-style gifts.

Each Ukiyo-e is made one by one by skilled Ukiyo-e printmaker. These Ukiyo-e are reprints of the famous Edo Ukiyo-e print masters masterpiece - Hokusai Katsushika, HIroshige Utagawa, Sharaku Tokusyusai, and Utamaro Kitagawa.

Toukaido 53 View and Edo 100 View series are the reprint by an article of the Mokuhan print association.

Manufacturing

• draw a picture on print block
• carve print block - typically used cherry tree. For one Ukiyo-e, 5 blocks are used on average
• 3. print one color at a time. repeat this process for all the colors used in the picture. By doing this, demonstrate complicated color overlay and gradation.

Color added one by one

The Japanese Fan has been a symbol of Japanese life since it was invented in the beginning of the Heian period (about 1,200 years ago) in Kyoto. Each phase of Japanese life is celebrated by a ceremony and each ceremony has its own particular fan. These fans are basically dance fans, which are used to symbolize the moon, birds, wind, and so on. Since a Japanese Fan spreads out wide toward the end, people consider them to be symbols of good luck.

Also, Japanese Fan is used for displaying as ornament due to its symbol of good luck and beautiful pictures.

Manufacturing

The fan is made by hand using the same technique that has been used for centuries. An artist draws the picture to be used, another craftsman makes the ribs. They are fastened together and then the picture is pasted on the ribs and a fan is then ready for use.
There are about 30 steps to make Japanese Fans by division of labor with many artists and craftsmen.

Carrier bag, Small Pouch, Purse, Coin Purse with traditional Japanese Patterns. Also, by using ring, Furoshiki bag is a new idea.

Furoshiki is one of traditional Japanese wrapping clothes used to transport clothes, gifts, or other goods. Furoshiki means "bath spread". This comes from the traditional use of Furoshiki, to bundle clothes while at the public baths, "Sento."
Recently, the use of Furoshiki has re-gained attention as eco-friendly goods. Not only for wrapping, but also for used as carrying bag, Furoshiki becomes popular among young generation.

A Tenugui is a thin Japanese hand towel made of cotton. It is typically about 35 by 90 centimeters in size, plain weaved and is almost always printed with some pattern. It can be used for anything a towel could be used for - as a washcloth, dishcloth, headband, souvenir or decoration. Towels made from terry cloth have replaced many of its use in the household. However tenugui is still popular as a souvenir, decoration and as a head covering in Kendo. A tenugui frequently appears in anime and manga as a prop during a sento scene.

Manufacturing

Tenugui has many steps from preparing white cotton fabric in shape, dipping the fabric in dye penetrant, dry fabric, making resist paste based on the dye and pattern, dyeing (resist paste and dyeing process are repeated over 20 times.), washing, and finally drying. This can be done only by a skilled craftsman and Tenugui is a true Japanese art work.

Power of Nanbu Tekki - Good for the Health -

Elution iron from Nanbu Tekki is easily-absorbed bivalent iron. Scientifically-proven effect of supplementation with iron.

• Effective for anemia prophylaxis, and said effective for Alzheimer's prevention
• Remove chlorine from tap water and become mind water. Ideal water for tea, coffee, and cooking

Caution : Teapot is enameled and thus no effect mentioned above

Maintenance

• Do not touch inside
• When wash, rinse with water inside by vibrating slowly by hands
• Never use detergent and scourer and so on. It damages inside and causes rust
• When use first time, boil 2 or 3 times before actual use
• After the use, empty out, uncap, and dry inside with remaining heat
• 2-7 days since the first use, you find red-blown spots inside. This will grow to all inside. This is not rust. So, don't worry!
• Use for a while, you find white sediment inside. Please do not remove. This has the effect to make mild water
• Be careful not to boil without water. If you do so, leave it until it gets cooler by itself
• Handle and Body are very hot when boiled. Do not touch with your bare hand

Manufacturing

Nanbu Tekki is casting. There are more than 80 steps to manufacture Nanbu Tekki.

Chisel & Gouge for Carving Mallet.
European Violin makers love this extremely high quality of smithy work of 400 year history.