Altar Accessories

Overview

Many Japanese homes have beautifully decorated altars called "butsudan" where families pray to Buddha and their ancestors. Their construction involves several traditional crafts. But with changes in Japanese lifestyles, they're now less common. An artisan who makes them, Nakazawa Yukihiro, is repurposing techniques used in their production to turn discarded altars into accessories. Working with his family, he's found a new way to use his skills and preserve a piece of this Japanese tradition.