Crystal Maitreya, Kōshū Crystal Carving

This craft uses the natural gemstones—primarily crystal, jade, jasper, obsidian, and
agate—that are native to Fuefuki city, Yamanashi, an area that is blessed with
rich forests and abundant water. A wide variety of products are created from
these precious stones, from Buddhist sculptures and household decorative
objects in the shape of animals and birds to jewelry, such as necklaces, rings,
and brooches. Objects made from quartz crystal, which is more than twice as hard
as glass, are machined particularly slowly over a long period of time.