Japanese Traditional Handicrafts [Archives:2006/984/Local News]

SANA'A, Sept. 23 ) Japanese traditional handicrafts are in display at the Cultural Center in Sana'a until the beginning of October. The Japanese exhibition introduces handcrafted objects, which are made from traditional materials with traditional techniques from all over Japan. Representative objects designated as traditional crafts under the Japanese law form the core of the exhibition, supplemented by works of craft artists.

Traditional materials and techniques, rooted in the climate and landscape of different region of Japan have produce both utilitarian craft objects made by the seasoned skills of artisans and art works richly imbued with the creativity of craft artists. Artisans and artists have influence each other. This mutual influence has contributed to the depth and high quality of Japanese crafts as a whole. Ceramics, textiles, wood and bamboo crafts have played an intimate role in daily lives of people in Japan.

Ceramics

In Japan, dishes of various colors and shapes are used in making table arrangements. Earthenware production began 13,000 years ago. The number of people engaged in making ceramics is higher than that of artisans in any other Japanese craft.

Textiles

Textile decoration can be broadly divided into two types, yarn-dyed textiles, in which the yarns are first dyed and woven into a pattern; and surface-dyed textiles, in which per-woven, undyed cloth is dyed using various techniques. In Japan, both dyed textiles existed from the eighth century onward.

Wood and Bamboo Crafts

The history of both wood and bamboo crafts is ancient and both have been excavated from sites dating to the fourth century B.C.

Paper, Writing Implements, ETC.

Papermaking is said to have been introduced to Japan from the continent earlier than the sixth century, spreading throughout the country in the eighth century.

Glassware

Glass beads have been produced in Japan since the eighth century, but it was not until the second half of the 1600's that glass-making techniques were introduced from Europe and glass vessels began to be manufactured in this country. Production began in Nagasaki and eventually spread throughout Japan.
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