＜Grant Recipients Decided＞ The 2nd "Japan's Beautiful Craftsmanship Fund ~Training Support Grant~" Selects 24 Aspiring Artisans

On April 2, 2026, the Japan Philanthropic Foundation (Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kazuhisa Kishimoto) announced the decision of the recipients for the 2nd "Japan's Beautiful Craftsmanship Fund ~Training Support Grant~" as follows. The second call for applications received 85 applications (from 27 prefectures, 49 craft categories), and as a result of a rigorous selection process, 24 individuals (from 13 prefectures, 21 craft categories) were selected. The total amount of training support grants is 12 million yen, and the grant period is from May 2026 to April 2027.

Training Support Grant Recipients

* Listed in order of prefecture and craft item. The spelling of names reflects the wishes of the selected individuals.

Akane Watanabe (Miyagi Prefecture - Miyagi Traditional Kokeshi)
Nina Nagasawa (Miyagi Prefecture - Sendai Tansu)
Eima Aoki (Fukushima Prefecture - Obori Soma Ware)
Reika Ito (Fukushima Prefecture - Obori Soma Ware)
Kana Tokunaga (Tokyo Metropolitan Area - Edo Hyogu)
Nono Ohira (Tokyo Metropolitan Area - Tokyo Hand-Painted Yuzen)
Yoshihiro Inagaki (Niigata Prefecture - Echigo Sanjo Forged Blades)
Name withheld (Toyama Prefecture - Etchu Washi)
Haruna Fukuyoshi (Ishikawa Prefecture - Kutani Ware)
Name withheld (Ishikawa Prefecture - Kutani Ware)
Tamako Nagashima (Ishikawa Prefecture - Wajima Lacquerware)
Hatsumi Takeda (Ishikawa Prefecture - Yamanaka Lacquerware)
Natsuki Akita (Aichi Prefecture - Okazaki Stoneware)
Hiroko Yamamoto (Kyoto Prefecture - Kyo-Sensu (Kyoto Folding Fans))
Name withheld (Kyoto Prefecture - Kyo-Sensu (Kyoto Folding Fans))
Kumi Goto (Kyoto Prefecture - Kyo-Shikki (Kyoto Lacquerware))
Karen Okajima (Kyoto Prefecture - Kyo-Ningyo Kashira (Kyoto Doll Heads))
Riko Furukawa (Osaka Prefecture - Naniwa Honzome (Naniwa Traditional Dyeing))
Hiroyuki Tanaka (Hyogo Prefecture - Toyooka Kiryuzaiku (Toyooka Willow Craft))
Chikashi Fujiwara (Hyogo Prefecture - Banshu Miki Forged Blades)
Riran Middelkoop (Wakayama Prefecture - Kishu Tansu)
Yoji Yamamoto (Yamaguchi Prefecture - Akama Inkstone)
Yukiko Yoshida (Fukuoka Prefecture - Kurume Kasuri)
Name withheld (Fukuoka Prefecture - Koishiwara Ware)

What is the "Japan's Beautiful Craftsmanship Fund ~Training Support Grant~"?

The "Japan's Beautiful Craftsmanship Fund" was established with the donors' desire that traditional crafts, which are "Japan's beautiful craftsmanship" backed by two millennia of Japanese history and culture, be protected and passed down.
The "Japan's Beautiful Craftsmanship Fund ~Training Support Grant~" is a grant for individuals undergoing training and apprenticeship in areas producing traditional crafts throughout Japan. It aims to support those aspiring to become artisans in traditional craft-producing regions, enabling them to concentrate on their learning and progress towards becoming fully-fledged artisans without abandoning their aspirations. A flat rate of 500,000 yen is provided to individuals with less than 10 years of training experience who are committed to acquiring and passing on traditional craft skills.

• Contact

Please send inquiries to the foundation's main email address.
Email address: info(at)np-foundation.or.jp

* Please replace (at) with @.

Japan Philanthropic Foundation

The Japan Philanthropic Foundation was established in 2020 with the aim of providing funds for social contribution projects. It solicits donations, manages and operates them as funds, and carries out grant programs, scholarships, and commendation projects. The foundation aims to foster each donor's "sentiments" into "meaningful donations," striving to create a richer society as an investment in the future.
Foundation Website: https://np-foundation.or.jp/