As of January 2024, there are 241 items designated as “Traditional Crafts” by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Traditional crafts are defined as crafts that:

• Are primarily used in everyday life.
• Have the majority of their manufacturing process carried out by hand.
• Are manufactured using traditional techniques or methods.

Traditional crafts are divided into the following categories:

• Textiles
• Dyes and textiles
• Ceramics
• Lacquerware
• Woodworking
• Bamboo crafts
• Metalwork
• Buddhist altars and Buddhist utensils
• Japanese paper
• Stationery
• Stonework
• Dolls
• Other crafts
• Tools and materials

In addition, there are also traditional crafts designated by each prefecture, city, or town. Including these, it is said that there are over 1,000 items of traditional crafts in Japan.