Kanazawa Butsudan

Kanazawa Butsudan (金沢仏壇) is a Buddhist altar produced in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture. It is categorized among Japan's traditional Buddhist craft items and is listed by the General Incorporated Foundation for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries (一般財団法人 伝統的工芸品産業振興協会).

History

Detailed historical records for Kanazawa Butsudan are not available in the current source data. The craft is recognized within Japan's broader framework of traditional craft industries, which is promoted and catalogued by organizations such as Japanese Buddhist Crafts advocacy bodies. Aoyama Square, the official traditional craft showroom operated by the General Incorporated Foundation for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries and located at 8-1-22 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, has listed Kanazawa Butsudan among the traditional crafts it introduces, with its online catalogue copyright dating from 2009.

Techniques & Production Process

Specific details regarding the techniques and production processes used in the creation of Kanazawa Butsudan are not documented in the current source data. As a Japanese Buddhist craft, it falls within a category of altar-making traditions that typically involve specialist artisans, though no technique-specific facts are available for inclusion here.

How to Identify Kanazawa Butsudan

Specific identifying visual or tactile features of Kanazawa Butsudan are not described in the current source data. Readers seeking identification guidance are advised to consult the Aoyama Square resource, which introduces traditional crafts designated in each prefecture of Japan and allows searching by region and category.

The Craft Today

Kanazawa Butsudan is among the traditional crafts of Ishikawa Prefecture listed and promoted through Aoyama Square (伝統工芸 青山スクエア), located at 8-1-22 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052. The showroom is open from 11:00 to 19:00 year-round, except during the year-end and New Year period, and can be contacted by telephone at 03-5785-1301. In April 2026, the Aoyama Square website was made multilingual, broadening access to information about listed crafts including those from Ishikawa Prefecture. Other Buddhist altar traditions from across Japan, such as Kyo Butsudan from Kyoto, Osaka Butsudan, Nagasaki Butsudan, Hikone Butsudan from Shiga, Yame Fukushima Butsudan from Fukuoka, Hakata Butsudan from Fukuoka, Tokai Butsudan from Mie, Mikawa Butsudan from Aichi, and Nagoya Butsudan from Aichi, are similarly catalogued within this national network.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kanazawa Butsudan?

Kanazawa Butsudan (金沢仏壇) is a Buddhist altar produced in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, and is listed among Japan's traditional craft items by the General Incorporated Foundation for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries.

Where can I find information about Kanazawa Butsudan in person?

Aoyama Square (伝統工芸 青山スクエア), operated by the General Incorporated Foundation for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries, is located at 8-1-22 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052. It is open from 11:00 to 19:00, except during the year-end and New Year period, and can be reached by telephone at 03-5785-1301.

How does Kanazawa Butsudan relate to other Japanese Buddhist altar traditions?

Kanazawa Butsudan is one of several regional Buddhist altar traditions in Japan. Other examples include Kyo Butsudan from Kyoto, Osaka Butsudan, Nagasaki Butsudan, Hikone Butsudan from Shiga, and various altar traditions from Fukuoka, Mie, and Aichi prefectures, all of which are catalogued within Japan's national traditional craft framework.

Is Kanazawa Butsudan searchable by region on official craft databases?

Yes. Aoyama Square's website introduces traditional crafts designated in each prefecture of Japan and allows searching by region and category, making it possible to locate Kanazawa Butsudan within Ishikawa Prefecture's listings.

Sources

• 伝統工芸青山スクエア