Students of Nishiotokuni High School trying their hand at Nishijin-ori. (Kyoto Prefecture Board of Education)

Kyoto served as the seat of Japan's imperial throne for more than 1,000 years until the Meiji government moved it to Tokyo in 1868. Along with its history, the old capital has long boasted a number of traditional crafts that are both beautiful and original. With the changing tastes of consumers and the appearance of low-price imitations, however, awareness of these crafts has been fading in recent years. In an effort to reverse this trend, the Kyoto Prefecture Board of Education (site is Japanese only) began implementing a program in October 2002 that enables students of the prefecture's elementary, middle, and high schools to learn about these crafts firsthand.

Dispatching Artisans to Schools
Efforts to have students experiment with traditional crafts have been made here and there in the past, but Kyoto's initiative is a bid to get the whole prefecture into the act. The eventual aim is to have all the schools in the prefecture give their students a taste of traditional craft production. As a first step, Kyoto's Board of Education has decided to institute classes in 60 schools and other places by the beginning of March 2003.

In these classes, experts in such traditional crafts as silk weaving and ceramics are dispatched to schools to give students some practical training. At the least, this should lead to a better understanding of these crafts. Needless to say, local artisans are pleased with this initiative. As one of them comments, "It's great to be able to work directly with students and show them the charm of traditional crafts, as they will be our future customers and may even become the artisans carrying the crafts forward."

Elegant and Beautiful Crafts
Kyoto became the capital of Japan in 794, and the city remained the cultural and artistic center of Japan until the imperial throne was moved to Tokyo in 1868. The surroundings were favorable for the emergence of a large number of residents with refined tastes. With a large number of skilled artisans also on hand, perhaps it was inevitable that the city would give birth to various crafts combining beauty with elegance.

Nishijin-ori (literally "western camp weaving") is one of these traditional crafts. These high-quality silk goods feature designs and patterns that are both gorgeous and minutely detailed, and each one is original. Although Nishijin-ori boasts a history of 1,200 years, it was not always called that. The name dates from the Onin War (1467-77), when the group of warriors known as the Western Army set up camp in the northwestern sector of Kyoto where these products were being produced. Thereafter Nishijin became the name of this part of Kyoto.

Kiyomizu-yaki is a special type of ceramic ware produced in Kyoto and known for its high-level designs and the variety of techniques used to create it. Its history is said to go back to the fifth century. A number of famous artisans, such as Ogata Kenzan (1663-1743), created original designs and methods of production, and these beautiful ceramics made their way around Japan and overseas.

Some believe that Kyoto is also the place where the folding fan originated, but whether it did or not, there is no argument over the fact that a thriving folding fan industry developed in the city. It was an integral part of the arts that flourished in Kyoto, such as the tea ceremony, the incense ceremony, and traditional dance. In order to match the beauty of these fans to the very different activities in which they were used, a variety of shapes and materials were employed. Folding fans made their way to the courts and palaces of China and as far away as Europe long ago.

Other traditional crafts in Kyoto include joinery, doll-making, lacquer ware, and braiding. The Kyoto Traditional Industries and Crafts Association is one organization dedicated to promoting the old capital's traditional industries. It has 45 members specializing in 25 different fields.

Local Industries Hope Program Will Be Ongoing
In Japan as a whole, traditional craft industries are plainly in a period of decline. In monetary terms, the market lost 40% of its value between 1980 and 2000, when it was estimated to be worth close to ¥300 billion ($2.5 billion at ¥120 to the dollar). The number of workers in this sector likewise fell, from more than 25,000 to just over 10,000.

The local association of traditional craft artisans is pinning high hopes on the initiative launched by Kyoto's Board of Education. It has asked the board to upgrade this program from a temporary, experimental status to an ongoing part of the curriculum.