Hikone Household Buddhist Altars

Gradually during the 18th century, highly skilled armorers, lacquerers and other artisans were encouraged by the Hikone clan to work on the making of household altars, at first more or less as a "cottage industry". Subsequently with the rise in popularity of Buddhism and the patronage of the Hikone clan, a production center became established, forming the foundations of the small craft industry as it exists today.

While the household altars built in and around Hikone are certainly large, grand and imposing, they still retain a dignified air even when scaled down. Function, too, is not overlooked as a stationary box and stand are incorporated to house essential paraphernalia associated with the use of one of these altars. Now there are 45 government recognized Master Craftsmen among the 850 employed by the 83 firms continuing to make these fine edifices of faith.