Category:Fukui Prefecture

Fukui Prefecture is located in the **Hokuriku region** of central Honshū, facing the Sea of Japan. The region is known for its rugged coastline, forested mountains, and historic castle towns. Fukui has long been connected to both inland trade routes and maritime cultural exchange, which shaped its distinctive craft and cultural identity.

The capital, Fukui City, and the historic castle town of Maruoka reflect the prefecture’s samurai heritage, while the city of Obama on the coast was historically a key port connected to trade with the continent. Today, Fukui maintains a strong reputation for traditional craftsmanship blended with modern industry, especially in textiles and fine tools.

Culturally, Fukui is renowned for its **refined artisanal traditions** passed down for centuries. The prefecture is especially known for its **Echizen papermaking**, one of Japan’s oldest and most prestigious washi traditions, as well as its finely crafted cutlery and lacquerware. These crafts embody subtlety, durability, and a deep respect for material and technique.

Signature Crafts of Fukui Prefecture

• Echizen washi (越前和紙) – one of Japan’s oldest paper-making traditions, prized for calligraphy, restoration work, and ceremonial use.
• Echizen lacquerware (越前漆器) – elegant lacquer crafts with a smooth, deep finish, used for both everyday ware and ceremonial objects.
• Echizen cutlery (越前打刃物) – high-quality forged knives and blades, produced using techniques descended from swordsmithing.
• Textile weaving – including fine silk and synthetic textile production, continuing Fukui’s legacy as a major textile region.