Generations of artisans in Japan have forged and refined their crafts to become the envy of the world. Each of the country's regions are renowned for specific traditions relating to local materials and the natural world in which they are produced. While tourists and design enthusiasts have long acknowledged the unique history and quality of Japanese craftsmanship, very few crafts have made their way outside the country, preventing many from witnessing the quality of Japanese workmanship for themselves.

With the aim of sharing these unseen treasures with the wider world, designers Uwe R