Arakawa Ward Traditional Craft Techniques Preservation Society
On October 1, 1982, the Arakawa Ward Cultural Properties Protection Ordinance came into effect, marking the start of full-scale efforts to protect tangible and intangible cultural properties in Arakawa Ward. Established at this time with the aim of preserving traditional regional culture, the Arakawa Ward Traditional Craft Techniques Preservation Association operates with subsidies from the ward.
Preceding this, the Cultural Properties Protection Law was revised in 1975 (Showa 50), followed by revisions to the Tokyo Metropolitan Cultural Properties Protection Ordinance in 1976 (Showa 51). Consequently, surveys began the following year, 1977 (Showa 52), to identify traditional techniques and skills essential for cultural property preservation that required conservation measures. At that time, the ward lacked a dedicated cultural property department. Members of the Arakawa History Society and staff from the Arakawa Ward Board of Education conducted surveys within the ward. Initially identifying 30 artisans, they spent five years identifying a total of 86 artisans. The project to publicly share these findings was the “First Arakawa Traditional Techniques Exhibition” in 1981.
The following year, coinciding with the establishment of the Arakawa Ward Traditional Craft Techniques Preservation Association, traditional crafts were registered as Intangible Cultural Properties, and the certification of their bearers commenced. Alongside making the Traditional Techniques Exhibition an annual event, the “Arakawa School Craftsman Classroom” was launched in 1984 (Showa 59) at elementary schools within the ward to demonstrate techniques, with an eye toward nurturing successors.
From fiscal year 1985, the district began producing documentary videos titled “Living with Tradition” featuring holders of designated intangible cultural properties. Starting in 1990, the district began purchasing and preserving their works. This longstanding achievement was recognized with the group award for the “Furusato Creation Grand Prize, Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Award” in fiscal year 2014.
Furthermore, the “Master Craftsman Development Project” (officially the Arakawa Ward Traditional Craft Technique Successor Development Support Project) commenced in 2009. With ward support, young artisans are being nurtured one after another. At the annual “Arakawa Traditional Techniques Exhibition,” visitors can see the work of these young artisans, the “Aramuku Group,” alongside the skills of seasoned masters.
Although the parent organization, the Arakawa History Society, has suspended its activities, with the assistance of its alumni, the ward mayor, the staff of the Lifelong Learning Division, and the staff of the Arakawa Furusato Bunka Museum responsible for cultural property protection, the group is now conducting even more active efforts to preserve and promote traditional crafts, which are designated as cultural properties of the ward.
By Nakamura Yasushi (Kantei-ryū, Edo-style calligraphy, Yose-style calligraphy)
The Origin of the Large Crest “Arakawa”
Regarding the character “Arakawa,” we present the words of Mr. Yasushi Nakamura (Tachibana Uchitachi) of the Preservation Society, who wrote it.In 1989, the then-secretary general of the Arakawa Ward Traditional Craft Techniques Preservation Society was Mr. Susa, a noren dyeing artisan. He was also a member of the Arakawa History Society and a key figure in establishing this preservation society. He approached me requesting a design for the association’s matching happi coats, specifically asking for the “Arakawa” circle alongside the collar characters. While characters like “ん” or “し” with their upward-sweeping right strokes could be shaped, frankly, it was impossible. Persuaded by his earnest plea, I came up with the circle for “わ”. Using a standard ‘か’ would have made the center too crowded, so I opted for the variant kana “可” with a dakuten. The collar characters, if done individually, would be easily erased. So I arranged them like a ranking chart: the association’s name in white-outlined letters on black at the top, the family crest at the top center. Actually, it’s called a ‘shu-kyo’ – I filled the gaps with vermilion ink. The actual piece is always displayed at my booth during the annual ‘Arakawa Traditional Craft Exhibition’.