About Yamagata Butsudan (Yamagata Buddhist Altar)
Yamagata Butsudan are gold Buddhist altars produced mainly in Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture. Developed from the mid-Edo period, they are characterized by robust wood processing using Yamagata Prefecture-grown zelkova, finished with gold leaf, lacquer, and maki-e decoration. Jodo Shinshu Buddhism is widely practiced in the Tohoku region, and Yamagata altars are known as a representative gold altar production area in Tohoku meeting that religious demand. A Tohoku traditional craft fusing Yamagata's abundant timber resources with craftsman technique.
Techniques & Materials
Craft terms are shown in the original Japanese — these are proper names with no standard English equivalents.
Techniques
欅木地加工金箔押し漆塗り蒔絵錺金具
Materials
欅（けやき）金箔天然漆
Where to see & buy
Workshop names are in Japanese; links go to their official sites.
- 山形仏壇仏具組合（産地にご確認ください）