The strength of the manufacturing kingdom

From the beautiful thin Yamagata castings to shogi pieces and textiles from Yonezawa and Okitama, Yamagata is truly a land of artisans, with a wide variety of traditional crafts alive and well.

Traditional Crafts

  • Textiles and dyeing

    Okitama Tsumugi

    A general term for textiles made in the Okitama region, such as "Yoneryu Kasuri," which has a simple texture due to its plant dyeing.

  • Traditional Crafts

    Nibutani Attusi

    A strong, breathable bolt of fabric woven using thread made from the inner bark of trees such as the Pacific halibut.

  • Buddhist altars and accessories

    Yamagata Buddhist Altar

    A sturdy and luxurious golden Buddhist altar made by craftsmen in seven different fields, including woodworking, carving, metalwork, and lacquering.

  • Traditional Crafts

    Tendo Shogi Pieces

    The majority of shogi pieces are produced nationwide, from "kakikoma" (written pieces) with abbreviated characters written in lacquer to high-quality "mosaagekoma" (raised pieces).

  • Textiles and dyeing

    Uetsu Shinabu

    An ancient fabric woven from fibers extracted from the bark of the linden tree. It is water-resistant and has a simple, rustic feel.