They say that the spirit of a country lives in its traditional arts. By exploring the traditional arts of Shikoku, visitors might be able to discover some of the spirit of the Japanese people.

Kagawa lacquerware, which has its origins in the Edo period (1603 - 1868), is made by painting a number of coats of lacquer on wood carving goods, and is finished with surface engravings. The art started out as a method for creating objects for daily use, but it has evolved into a highly refined craft producing goods that are considered works of art.

Tobe-yaki is a style of pottery that, unlike lacquerware, is still a regular part of daily life today. A characteristic of this pottery is its pleasant weight and thickness. White clay is decorated with indigo blue glaze called gozu. The rustic quality of the work is what makes Tobe-yaki so appealing.

Marugame uchiwa paper fans are another traditional craft that are still in general use today. Marugame uchiwa fans are made by splitting a single piece of bamboo for the framework and pasting paper onto the frame, and coating it with persimmon tannin. Currently, the production of fans has become automated, and the framework is often made of plastic. However, the custom of using a fan is still going strong. Many people find them indispensable tools for enduring the summer heat.

There are yet other traditional arts which have no connection at all to daily life, but which are very special nonetheless. One example is the art of awa ningyo joruri. Ningyo joruri is a kind of puppet theater art, and the art of making and manipulating the puppets is a highly refined craft. The Deko Ningyo Puppet Museum is a museum which has many dolls on display in addition to explanations of how the dolls are made. Nearby the museum is the Awa Jurobe Mansion, which holds daily ningyo joruri shows. Watching a play performed by puppets in the ningyo joruri style is a captivating experience.

And finally, an art that gets a little help from Mother Nature. Pearl cultivation has been practiced on Shikoku since the 1900s. Pearls cannot be made by man alone. A nucleus is inserted into an akoya oyster, and the oyster is returned to the sea where it creates a pearl. Uwajima is blessed with an ideal natural environment for growing pearls, and the pearls cultivated there are prized for their high quality.