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.

About one thousand years ago, quartz was discovered in the vicinity of Mount Kinpusan, beyond the picturesque Mitake Shōsenkyō Gorge. When it was first discovered, the crystals were displayed as ornaments on their own, but by the Edo period (1600–1868), they began to be processed into gems. About 200 years ago, craftsmen from Kyoto brought the technique of hand polishing crystal beads using emery powder to the area and a local crystal carving industry took root.

In the Meiji period, demand for obidome kimono sash ornaments and hair combs, netsuke toggles and other personal accessories increased, however by the late Meiji period quartz sources had begun to run dry. As a result, quartz, agate, diamonds, and other precious stones were imported from various countries in South America and Africa. In 1977, Kōfu crystal carving was designated a Traditional Craft Industry in recognition of its long history of producing intricately crafted objects and personal accessories using traditional techniques.

Taking into account the overall shape of the stone, a sketch of the piece to be carved is drawn onto the surface.

Details are added with a mallet and chisel. At this point, it is important to be careful not to carve too deeply. 

The shape of the piece is gradually refined using varying sizes of iron grinding wheels with finer and finer polishing grit. 

The amount of time required to make a single piece varies depending on the size of the object. In some cases, as many as three pieces can be made in a single day, but large pieces can take as long as three months to make one item. Each carving is unique and depends on the natural features of the stone, so mass production is not possible.