The Uncertain Path of Those in Traditional Crafts
- 美彰院-BISHOIN- 美術修復スタジオ
- Jan 19
- 4 min read
Lost in the Forest of Doubt?
Whether this is your first time here or you’ve stopped by before, thank you for taking a moment to read.
My name is Tomomi Sakamoto. From fiscal year 2025, I have the honor of serving as a board member of Kyoto Wakaba-kai, an association for young professionals in traditional industries.
Through this role, I have many opportunities to speak with young artisans from a wide range of fields.
What I hear again and again is not only their passion for technique,not only their pride in preserving tradition,but also the unspoken anxiety beneath it all:
“Can I really make a living this way?”“Is it okay to continue like this?”
Concerns about sustainability, about the future of their craft and their lives—feelings that are difficult to put into words, yet deeply rooted.
To be honest, I myself am still walking this uncertain path.
I did not inherit a family business.Although I work with Kyoto lacquerware, my activities are not strictly “traditional manufacturing.”My work centers on restoration, offering kintsugi workshops, and exhibiting and selling Kyoto lacquerware in a guesthouse setting—what some might call an unconventional approach.
Because of this, serving as a board member of Wakaba-kai—an organization with many highly skilled, traditionally trained artisans—comes with a sense of hesitation, even guilt.
And yet, the reason I am writing this blog is because a question has stayed with me for a long time:
Must one be “orthodox” to speak?Isn’t the deeply rooted belief—shared even among young artisans—that “a craftsperson must be this way” actually accelerating the decline of traditional industries?
There are contradictions we sense but rarely dare to touch.
In this article, I would like to focus on young people working in traditional industries.
To be clear from the start:there is no perfect answer.
But if this piece helps someone think, “I’m not the only one who feels lost,” then that is enough.
And perhaps one day, we can speak together as companions—moving forward, even while uncertain.
Traditional Industries at a Turning Point
Japan’s traditional industries are in a period of transition.
No one knows the correct answer.The uncertain path feels less like a road and more like a forest—spreading wider and wider.
But please remember:you are not the only one standing here, unsure of where to go.
(Wait… where even are we?)
Let’s get lost—forward-looking, and together.
The “Golden Route” of Uncertainty
The curse of “If you chose the artisan’s path, you must walk it properly”
Everyone working in traditional industries carries their own background and circumstances. In this section, titled “The Golden Route of Uncertainty,” I would like to list the walls that most artisans encounter at some point.
Everything here is based on my own observations.
Regardless of years of experience or job title, I believe that at the core of “living as an artisan,” there are shared doubts.
“Can I make a living?” Unstable income and long-term planning→ Hearing about acquaintances who receive steady government contracts (BtoG) only increases anxiety.
Low take-home pay, uneven monthly work, worries about family life→ Exhibitions and events exist, but they rarely lead to continuous orders or repeat clients.
Discomfort with sales, marketing, and PR→ Wanting to adapt to modern methods, but feeling mentally rigid or lacking confidence due to limited non-craft experience.
Confidence in making, resistance to selling or promoting→ Why must artisans do so many things beyond handwork?→ Fear of standing out too much if one promotes oneself.→ Subcontract-only work leaves nothing original to present publicly.
Not knowing how to use SNS or websites effectively→ Understanding their importance, but being unable to take action.
An aging customer base and difficulty developing new markets→ Long-standing clients grow older, while brand value visible to outsiders never develops.→ Being unable to refuse poorly budgeted work introduced through connections.
Loneliness and lack of information→ Few chances to talk with peers in the same craft or generation.→ No one to consult during apprenticeship years.→ Feeling left behind due to limited information.
Conflict between tradition and innovation→ The pressure that “changing things means it’s no longer tradition.”→ Fear of disgracing a long-established name.→ Doubts about surviving the next 30 years with existing work alone.
Wanting to try something new, but feeling afraid→ Not having the resolve to stand at the forefront.→ Wanting only to work quietly with one’s hands, without being asked for more.
Different Forms of Uncertainty, by Position
Apprentices (20s)
Low wages and barely making ends meet; exhaustion from juggling part-time jobs.
Unable to speak honestly due to hierarchy.
Fear of independence and financial survival.
Comparing oneself to successful peers and feeling discouraged.
Independent Artisans (around 30s)
Handling sales, orders, delivery, and accounting alone.
Losing time to create what they truly want.
Events remain one-off experiences with no repeat customers.
Uncertainty around pricing, leading to underpricing and self-frustration.
Pressure from rent, family responsibilities, and daily life.
Artisans Who Inherited a Family Business (30s–40s)
Conflict between parental methods and personal vision.
Being told “you’re the successor,” without confidence or readiness.
Overwhelmed by the gap between a remarkable parent and oneself.
Difficulty balancing creation and management, straining family relationships.
Realizing too late the lack of business or management experience.
Understanding that skill alone does not guarantee survival or succession.
Being Lost Does Not Mean Standing Still
Reality is never simple.Everyone carries doubts they rarely show.
Being uncertain is proof that you are moving forward. You think because you are trying to advance.
The “right path” is not reserved for those who have everything figured out.
Even while lost, you can still create your own road.
You may question your path many times in a long life. But that does not mean you are wrong.
Perhaps it means you are struggling—earnestly—to build your own way.
You are not alone in this uncertainty.
On this blog, I will continue to put into words what artisans need in order to live—one step at a time.
Come back and walk with me.
