Category:Kumamoto Prefecture

Kumamoto Prefecture is located in the Kyūshū region, facing the Ariake Sea and bordered inland by forested mountains and volcanic highlands. The region is defined by the vast caldera of Mount Aso, one of the largest active volcanic systems in the world, as well as fertile river valleys that have supported agriculture and settlement for centuries. Kumamoto’s landscapes combine dramatic natural forms with areas of calm rural life.

The capital, Kumamoto City, developed as a major castle town under the Hosokawa clan, and Kumamoto Castle remains a symbol of the region’s cultural identity and craftsmanship. Inland areas and traditional mountain communities maintain long-standing artisanal practices tied to local resources such as timber, stone, and natural pigments.

Culturally, Kumamoto is known for crafts that reflect both the strength and subtlety of regional materials, especially metalwork, pottery, woodworking, and textiles. Many of these crafts embody practicality, structural clarity, and quiet expressive character connected to everyday life and seasonal rhythms.

Signature Crafts of Kumamoto Prefecture

• Higo zogan (肥後象嵌) – metal inlay craft in which gold or silver is inlaid into iron, historically linked to sword fittings and later adapted to modern decorative objects.
• Mashiki ware (益城焼) and regional ceramics – pottery traditions that reflect local clay and wood-fired kiln techniques.
• Traditional bamboo and woodcraft – utensils and everyday wares shaped from mountain-grown materials.
• Dyeing and textile traditions – including cloth and garments rooted in rural production and practical use.