Pass on your craftsmanship to the next generation: Recruiting for 'Yokohama Meister'!

Are there any skilled artisans living in Yokohama who are active in world or national competitions? We invite you to pass on your excellent skills and the importance of craftsmanship to young artisans and the wider society.

Since 1996, Yokohama City has selected 'Yokohama Meister'—skilled professionals who contribute to the lives and culture of citizens. To date, 72 Meisters have been appointed.

Yokohama Meisters engage in training successors in their respective fields and promote the importance and wonder of manual work through workshops and lectures. We are now accepting applications for the 2026 fiscal year.

Target Occupations Occupations involving manufacturing or service provision through manual work or machines controlled by manual processes, requiring long-term training and experience.

Recent selections include: Wooden musical instrument manufacturing (2025), Joinery (2024), Model train manufacturing and Beauticians (2023), Type casting and Wall covering (2022), Shoe repair/manufacturing and Upholstery (2021), Ceramic painting, Landscaping, and Carpentry (2020), Japanese cuisine and Cleaning (2019).

Application Requirements (Must meet all) (1) Reside in Yokohama City. (2) Have at least 15 years of practical experience in the field. (3) Make a living through the occupation. (4) Possess valuable skills that need to be passed on. (5) Possess exceptional skills (e.g., Grade 1 certification or equivalent, or national/prefectural awards). (6) Motivated to train successors and skilled in knowledge transfer. (7) Motivated and capable of contributing to industry development and skill promotion. (8) Possess the personality and business management skills suitable for a Yokohama Meister. (9) Expected to be active as a Yokohama Meister for at least 5 years.

Information sessions start on April 2, 2026! Pre-registration is required.