Crafts Policies in Japan

Abstract

There was no Japanese word for “art” until the introduction of Western philosophy. The word “crafts” included both the concepts of arts and crafts. “Crafts” in Japan refer to skills obtained through a long tradition and have been promoted by both cultural and industrial policies in Japan. From the point of view of cultural policy, artistic crafts represent tangible cultural heritage and the skills for making crafts represent intangible cultural heritage. From the point of view of economic policy, crafts represent industries that are clustered within a specific region. After illustrating the different policies in place to sustain traditional crafts and stimulate creativity in Japan, the chapter explores various questions about crafts policies. Are the policies effective to sustain traditional crafts and stimulate creativity? How should cultural and economic policies be integrated?