　❝Kazari❞ Artisans of Yamanashi

20260314　ポスター " ❝Kazari❞ Artisans of Yamanashi "

　 2026.3.14～2026.6.15

　Closed：Tuesdays,Tuesday (*however, open on May 5), Thursday, May 7

　Room :"Special Exhibition Room A"

Outline

“Kazari” refers to the refined metalworking techniques used to intricately finish precious metals for personal adornment.
The advanced skills of Kazari artisans played a vital role in establishing Yamanashi’s nationwide reputation as “Crystal Yamanashi” during the early Showa period. Their craftsmanship supported the growth of the local polishing and jewelry industries and helped secure Yamanashi’s position as a leading center of jewelry production.
Precious metal craftsmanship became integral to Yamanashi’s jewelry industry after crystal-polishing techniques introduced from Kyoto in the late Edo period took root in the region. As demand grew for metal ornamentation to enhance crystal works, the scope of jewelry production expanded significantly.
Historical records indicate that Kazari workshops already existed in the late Edo period. Artisans produced items such as tobacco pipes and hair ornaments. Among them, the silver flat-forged hairpins known as Koshu Kanzashi gained widespread popularity, suggesting that a strong foundation in metal craftsmanship had developed here from an early stage.
In the Meiji period, collaboration between crystal processing and precious metal craftsmanship intensified. As these techniques fused, a distinctive jewelry culture unique to Yamanashi emerged.
This tradition has endured through the Taisho, Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa eras. Sustained by the dedication of generations of artisans, it has taken deep root in the region, elevating Yamanashi to one of Japan’s foremost jewelry-producing areas.
Even today, precious metal craftsmanship remains an indispensable part of jewelry production, continuing to support Yamanashi’s polishing and jewelry industries.
The artisans of Yamanashi continue to devote themselves to their work with meticulous skill and refined sensibility, pursuing a beauty that is uniquely their own.
We invite you to explore the remarkable creations born of their hands.