Antiques and Art: About 70% Respond They Should Be Passed Down to the Next Generation; About 46% Interested in "Knowledge to Discern Value (Appreciation Skills)"

■How much interest do people have in traditional Japanese art and crafts?

Old teacups and hanging scrolls sleeping in the back of storehouses and closets.

Even if you don't usually think about it, have you ever wondered, "Does this have value?"

Traditional Japanese art and crafts such as ceramics, hanging scrolls, tea ceremony utensils, swords, lacquerware, and Japanese paintings are crystals of culture passed down over a long period.

So, how interested are people today in such art and crafts? And what do they think about preserving them for the future?

Therefore, in collaboration with Eijudo, a specialty store for buying antiques, we conducted a survey targeting 653 men and women nationwide on "Interest in Traditional Japanese Culture and Art."

*When quoting the content of this press release, please take the following actions:

- State that the source is a "Survey by NEXER Inc. and Eijudo."

- Link to Eijudo (https://www.eijyudou.com/)

Survey Overview of "Survey on Interest in Traditional Japanese Culture and Art"

Survey Method: Internet-based questionnaire

Survey Period: May 22, 2026 - May 27, 2026

Target Respondents: Men and women nationwide

Valid Responses: 653 samples

Survey Questions:

Question 1: Are you interested in traditional Japanese art and crafts (ceramics, hanging scrolls, tea ceremony utensils, swords, lacquerware, Japanese paintings, etc.)?

Question 2: What prompted your interest in traditional Japanese art and crafts? (Multiple selections allowed)

Question 3: Have you ever thought about "wanting to see antiques and artworks up close" or "wanting to own them yourself"?

Question 4: Please tell us the reason.

Question 5: Are you interested in "knowledge to discern the value of antiques and artworks (appreciation skills)"?

Question 6: How would you like to learn about the value of antiques and artworks? (Multiple selections allowed)

Question 7: Do you think antiques and artworks are "things that should be passed down to the next generation"?

Question 8: Please tell us the reason why you think so.

*In principle, values are rounded to the second decimal place, so the total may not be 100%.

■27.4% Respond "Interested" in Traditional Japanese Art and Crafts

First, we asked about the degree of interest in traditional Japanese art and crafts.

"Very interested" accounted for 5.5% and "Somewhat interested" for 21.9%, totaling 27.4% who expressed interest. On the other hand, "Not very interested" was 25.1% and "Not interested at all" was 47.5%.

Looking at the numbers alone, only 27.4% are interested.

This could mean that traditional Japanese art and crafts are somewhat distant from daily life.

Perhaps if opportunities to encounter them more closely increased, the number of interested people would further grow.

■49.2% Cite "Like History and Japanese Culture" as the Trigger for Interest

Next, we asked those who responded that they were interested what prompted their interest.

The most common answer was "Like history and Japanese culture" at 49.2%.

This was followed by "Experience visiting museums and art galleries" at 42.5%, "TV programs (appraisal shows, historical programs, etc.)" at 40.2%, and "Experiences while traveling" at 16.8%.

What's interesting is that the top three reasons are all related to "experiences of visiting or seeing things themselves." Experiences of actually touching or seeing things seem to be more of a trigger for interest than what is learned in textbooks.

■38.0% Respond "Want to See Up Close / Own" Antiques and Artworks

Next, we asked those who responded that they were interested whether they had ever thought about "wanting to see antiques and artworks up close" or "wanting to own them yourself."

38.0% answered "Yes," while 62.0% answered "No."

Even among those interested, only 38.0% expressed a desire to go as far as "ownership."

Here are some of the reasons given for wanting to "see antiques and artworks up close" or "own them yourself."

Reasons for wanting to "see antiques and artworks up close" or "own them yourself"

- Because I want to study. (20s, Female)

- It has a special feeling. (20s, Male)

- I want to hold Kotetsu's sword. (20s, Male)

- Because it has charm. (30s, Female)

- Because I want to appreciate beautiful things daily. (40s, Female)

- Because I like history, and having them nearby makes me feel closer to history. (40s, Male)

In addition to interest in learning and culture, such as "wanting to study" and "wanting to feel history close by," there were also responses attracted to beauty and atmosphere, such as "it has a special feeling," "it has charm," and "wanting to appreciate beautiful things daily."

Antiques and artworks are perceived not just as valuable items, but also as presences that allow one to feel history and beauty in daily life.

■46.4% Interested in "Knowledge to Discern Value (Appreciation Skills)"

Next, we asked those who responded that they were interested whether they were interested in "knowledge to discern the value of antiques and artworks (appreciation skills)."

"Very interested" accounted for 9.5% and "Somewhat interested" for 36.9%, totaling 46.4% who expressed interest.

On the other hand, "Not very interested" was 34.6% and "Not interested at all" was 19.0%.

Nearly half of those interested are interested in the ability to discern value itself.

This suggests a desire to learn more deeply about antiques and artworks, going beyond the stage of simply liking them because they are beautiful.

■53.0% Want to Learn Through "Expert Explanations and Appraisals"

Next, we asked those who expressed interest in appraisal skills how they would like to learn.

The most common answer was "Receiving explanations and appraisals from experts" at 53.0%.

This was followed by "Participating in explanations and lectures at museums and art galleries" at 38.6%, "Learning through TV programs" at 32.5%, and "Learning through books and internet articles" at 28.9%.

What's noteworthy is that over half of the respondents want to "learn directly from experts."

While there are easy ways to research through books and the internet, the high demand for expert explanations and appraisals indicates a desire to acquire reliable knowledge.

■71.5% Believe Antiques and Artworks Should Be "Passed Down to the Next Generation"

Finally, we asked all respondents if they thought antiques and artworks are "things that should be passed down to the next generation."

"Strongly agree" accounted for 23.1% and "Somewhat agree" for 48.4%, totaling 71.5% who believe they "should be passed down."