Our Mission 

Revitalize traditional Japanese master crafts (dentō kōgei 伝統工芸) by identifying issues faced by artisans and implementing solutions for the 21st century.

What We Do

JapanCraft21 works to reverse the rapid disappearance of traditional Japanese crafts. In addition to our apprentice-support program and the co-sponsorship of a school of advanced building skills, we hold annual nationwide Traditional Craft Revitalization Contests.

Traditional Craft Revitalization Contest

IDEA CONTESTS: Each year, through a highly competitive selection process we choose individuals with exceptional project ideas, outstanding talent, track records, and passion, and provide them with a broad and significant development package. To explore the work of some of our winners, please see Craft Leaders. Our contest Judges consist of six highly respected professionals, academics, and artists.

① Yuji AKIMOTO ② Shihoko FUKUMOTO ③ Eriko HORIKI

④ Sawako KAIJIMA ⑤ Keiko AONO ⑥ Reiko SUDO

School of Traditional Building Arts

We co-founded the School of Traditional Building Arts (Shin-Machiya Juku 心町屋塾) in Kyoto to teach rapidly disappearing building skills. Our intensive yearlong courses are held on Sundays to accommodate young working building tradespeople. We have taught joinery to carpenters, bamboo mud wall construction to plasterers, and advanced Japanese garden building to gardeners. Our school fulfills the growing demand for fine-quality traditional construction by teaching nearly forgotten skills, giving young tradespeople a direct, tuition-free path to mastery. 

Education

JapanCraft21 is committed to educating young up-and-coming craftspeople through both our School for Traditional Building Arts and our apprentice program. Additionally, we raise public awareness about the value of fine Japanese Master Crafts through social media (Facebook, Instagram), our online magazine, and regular online lectures as well as private cultural events for our patrons.

The Ronnie Prize

The first-place RONNIE Prize of our Japanese Traditional Craft Revitalization Contest consists of 5 million yen ($50,000) in funding for the winning project aiming to revitalize a craft for the 21st Century. The Ronnie Prize trophy was created by renowned Japanese sculptor, Kan Yasuda. Crafted from white statuary marble, it is entitled Tenpi 天秘, meaning the "mysteries of heaven."

Irwin Wong

Most of the photographs on this website were taken by Irwin Wong.

JapanCraft21, Ichihara-cho 163-7 Shizuichi
Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 〒 601-1123, Japan