San Francisco Japantown Task Force

DATA SHEET

Place: Dentoh – Japanese Traditional Arts

Address: 1737 Post St. #365, San Francisco

Visual Description:

Dentoh is a non-profit organization located near the entrance of the Japan Center’s Kintetsu Mall, and is dedicated to collecting and preserving elements of traditional Japanese culture. The organization specializes in a variety of traditional Japanese arts and crafts, such as Japanese toys, clay dolls, wind chimes, paper mache, paintings, textiles, and woodblock prints, most of which are available for sale. Dentoh also regularly invites prominent artists from Japan and holds exhibitions to display their works, drawing in visitors from all over Japantown. In addition to crafts, Dentoh showcases traditional Japanese dance lessons on a small stage located within the facility, where visitors can either watch or participate for a small fee. Near the entrance of the store, Dentoh also features a miniature, portable Mikoshi (Right picture), a shrine that is carried during traditional Japanese festivals. Much of its proceeds are donated to the Japanese Benevolent Society (see data sheet), as well as improving the content and diversity of its collection.

History:

Dentoh was officially opened at the Japan Center in conjunction with the 2002 Cherry Blossom Festival, in which it showcased various traditional arts and wares collected from Japan. Within the last two years, the organization has showcased various established artists from Japan, including Tsuzen Nakajima, who headed a demonstration on the art of woodblock printing; Minoru Hirota, who specializes in oil paints; and Miyazaki Yuzensai, who showcased the art of dyeing and coloring textiles.

Significance:

Cultural, Educational, Social

Recognition of Significance:

N/A

Sources:

Seiko Fujimoto, President, Dentoh; Geri Honda, Dentoh

Other Comments:

In contrast to the more modern representations of Japanese culture typically featured at the Japan Center, Dentoh is one of the only shops that specializes in traditional elements of Japan’s culture. It is also one of the few organizations dedicated to preserving traditional Japanese culture in the face of mounting globalization and modernization within Japan.

Prepared By: Seiko Fujimoto Date Prepared: 12/3/04