Industry (Craft)

The Miyajima handiwork manufactured in Miyajima and its vicinity are characterized with the natural beauty of the place.
Round trays made using a potter's wheel, tea bowls and containers for ground tea (used for the tea ceremony). Among the manufactured articles carved round trays, incense containers and ladles are especially impressive.
The items display drawn motives including Itsukushima, deers, monkeys and other animals.
Pine, zelkova, cherry, mulberry tree and horse chestnut serve as raw materials and their beauty increases with the amount of care spend on them.

The origin of the Miyajima goes back to the Kamakura period when the workmen participating in the rebuilding of temples handed down their skills. This special product of Miyajima has been manufactured mainly as a native article for the visiting worshippers.
Wooden hammers and toys were also made, but in the period from 1848 - 1853 Genroku Oda introduce the potter's wheel technique where the wheel was used as a turning lathe that allowed to manufacture turned products.
During the same time the sculptor Shousai Hagi from Kai (present day Yamanashi Prefecture) perfectioned the Miyajima carving and started making trays, bowls for sweets and other items decorated with sceneries or motives of birds and flowers.
In the Edo period Miyajima was under the supervision of feudal lords, so that it was not possible to cut pines or cedars freely according to the needs. Later, other trees were designated miscellaneous trees' and could be used for the craft.
In 1982 this craft has been designated an national traditional craft.