Despite a decline in the handmade craft industry, especially with a lack of young people to pass the baton to in recent years, the Expo Milano 2015 that kicked off May 1 is a big chance for densan, or traditional Japanese handcrafted products, to promote their charm and elaborate workmanship to the world.
"The key is innovation. With a touch of innovation, traditional crafts can live on, making products that can appeal to a changing society, both in Japan and abroad," said Masaaki Sakai, managing director of the Association for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries in Tokyo's Minato Ward.
Techniques to make handcrafted household items have been passed down from one generation to the next for more than 100 years, with each item having its own unique regional characteristics.