Influenced by the presence of the samurai and their lifestyle, Kanazawa is recognized for its many artisan workshops characterizing the city as a City of Crafts and Folk Arts. Crafts and the samurai-influenced culture continue to play an important part of citizens’ daily lives. In the past, the feudal lords invited skilled artisans from Kyoto and Edo (currently Tokyo) to introduce craft techniques that combined dynamism with the elegance of the samurai culture. This combination is what makes Kanazawa’s crafts unique. 

 

Today, many fields of craftwork continue to exist and have significantly contributed to improving people’s daily lives. Some examples are the kaga-yuzen silk dying technique which is still used for making kimonos or gold leaf and lacquer ware.

 

Local artisans are now looking to build synergies with other creative fields in order to combine traditional crafts with innovation and new technologies. Kanazawa’s creative economy is driven by a highly sensitive consumer market, cultural investments, and the citizens’ taste for craftwork. 

 

The Kanazawa Citizens’ Art Center, founded in 1996, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, offers free areas for artistic activities. Inaugurated in 2004, the 21st Century Museum for Contemporary Art makes modern art and craft collections available to over 1.5 million visitors per year.