Butsugu are tools used in Buddhism to adorn Buddha statues, and "Owari Butsugu" are manufactured primarily in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture.
Owari Butsugu are designated as traditional Japanese crafts, primarily featuring wooden lacquerware products. They are characterized by their ability to accommodate a wide variety of Buddhist tools through highly specialized and diverse techniques. They also possess high technical skill, ensuring consistent quality even when using different types of wood or lacquer. Unlike household butsugu (for altars), butsugu for temples are larger, and the methods of adornment and the butsugu used vary by sect. Therefore, many artisans continue to inherit and apply their skills in their manufacture. Among these, the Owari region is the only place in Japan where mokugyo (wooden fish drums) and marugindai (round metal stands) are produced.
＜History＞
In 1609, with the construction of Nagoya Castle as a catalyst, "Minami Teramachi," an area where temples were concentrated at the southern end of the castle town (around Osu and Tachibana-cho), was formed. Palace carpenters (carpenters specializing in shrines and temples) involved in the construction of these temples later transitioned to making Buddhist ritual objects. As high-quality Kiso cypress was brought down the Kiso River to Ise Bay and then gathered in Nagoya via Horikawa, a foundation for crafting Buddhist ritual objects by applying lacquer to wood was established. In the late Edo period (around 1800), it developed as a side business for lower-ranking samurai, leading to the mass production of various products. Furthermore, from the Meiji era (late 1800s) onward, highly specialized skills were divided into different trades (such as woodworkers, Buddhist sculptors, lacquerers, colorists, foil applicators, and metalworkers), increasing mass production and earning a reputation for high quality. Additionally, the central location of the Owari region in Japan allowed for its widespread distribution across the country.
It is said.
Yuzuki Noyori
