“Managing and marketing of Traditional Crafts” Project
EducationResearchSocial Contribution
Details of the Initiative
The University Museum collaborates with faculty members of the School of Commerce to conduct research and study on the traditional craft industry, especially handmade ceramics, from the viewpoint of creating new value in the development, distribution, and production of products. The results of this research and study are disseminated not only to our students but also to the general public through any kinds of exhibitions, permanent collections, and special lectures.
Traditional crafts, in which natural materials are processed by hand, take time and effort to produce and cannot be mass-produced. Such crafts can be expensive as products, but the recent development of social networking services has made it possible for users (consumers) to sympathize with the personality of individual creators (craftsmen). The high-mix low-volume production allows consumers to choose products that match their favorites, making them consumer products that are used with long-lasting attachment. This encourages a reconsideration of the model of mass production and mass disposal, and suggests means of consumption and production that lead to conservation of the natural environment through the controlled and cyclical use of resources. It is also possible to contribute to improving the morals of human life by fostering a sense of affection for tools.