Update: November 28, 2025

　Exhibition: The Yamanashi Jewelry Museum Collection

 "Exhibition: The Yamanashi Jewelry Museum Collection"

　  2025.11.29～2026.2.23

　Closed：Tuesdays, From December 29, 2025, to January 3, 2026

　Room  :"Special Exhibition Room A"          

  

　　　　　

 

 

 

 

　

Outline 

Historical records indicate that Yamanashi once produced high-quality quartz crystals. The polishing techniques were introduced to the region in the late Edo period by Yasuke Tamaya, a senior clerk from the Kyoto-based jeweler Tamaya, who regularly visited to purchase quartz.

Through much trial and error in the pre-mechanization era, Yamanashi gradually industrialized and established systems for mass production. When combined with precious metal craftsmanship (known as kazari or filigree), this development led to jewelry pieces that met the growing market demands of the Meiji and Taisho periods. By the early Showa era, Yamanashi had become widely known throughout Japan as “the Crystal Capital,” laying the foundation for its identity as a jewelry-producing region.

Throughout the rapidly changing eras of Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa, Yamanashi has continued to refine its craftsmanship. Today, it remains one of Japan’s foremost jewelry production centers, constantly embracing new challenges.

The Yamanashi Jewelry Museum opened in 2013 as a facility dedicated to showcasing the local jewelry industry from the perspective of both “people” and “craftsmanship.” Its mission is to share the diverse appeal of Yamanashi jewelry with a wide audience.

In addition to thematic exhibitions held throughout the year, visitors can experience the enduring charm of Yamanashi’s jewelry industry through opportunities to see, learn, and engage hands-on.

Please enjoy a collection of works brought to life by master artisans who interpret two-dimensional design drawings—each reflecting the designer’s unique worldview—and transform them into exquisite three-dimensional jewelry.

Work