So Expensive Centuries-Old Crafts Marathon | So Expensive | Business Insider

Around the world, people dedicate their lives to preserving the traditional crafts of their culture. From longbows to swords, teapots to gongs, join us as we take a look back at what makes these centuries-old crafts so expensive.
Intro: 00:00
Swords: 00:27
Zisha Teapots: 05:49
Longbows: 12:00
Chef’s Knives: 18:53
Gongs: 28:39
MORE SO EXPENSIVE VIDEOS:
Why Moroccan Zellige Tiles Are So Expensive | So Expensive
• Why Moroccan Zellige T...
Why Japanese Denim Is So Expensive | So Expensive
• Why Japanese Denim Is ...
Why French Leavers Lace Is So Expensive | So Expensive
• Why French Leavers Lac...
------------------------------------------------------
#TraditionalCrafts #SoExpensive #BusinessInsider
Business Insider tells you all you need to know about business, finance, tech, retail, and more.
Visit us at: www.businessinsider.com
Subscribe: / businessinsider
BI on Facebook: read.bi/2xOcEcj
BI on Instagram: read.bi/2Q2D29T
BI on Twitter: read.bi/2xCnzGF
BI on Snapchat: / 5319643143
Boot Camp on Snapchat: / 3383377771
Why These 5 Centuries-Old Crafts Are So Expensive | So Expensive | Business Insider

[@davealmighty9638]

I bought an samurai sword in japan. It was 1988, and I paid $375. I sold it in 2004 for $5400. It was a good investment.

[@JustTryingToGetAYTPlayButton]

Could probably sell ot for 20k now

[@shaquille.oatmeal8992]

the bow maker is such a W guy, he makes some of the most elegant, beautiful, and powerful bows in the world but still is thinking about how he can make it accessible to everyone

[@let_uslunch8884]

W guy stands for wonderful guy right?

[@shaquille.oatmeal8992]

@@let_uslunch8884 win, wonderful, either way it's a compliment

[@let_uslunch8884]

@@shaquille.oatmeal8992 ahh I see.

[@ctdieselnut]

Being in a 450 year long family business was impressive, I thought. It's not just a job to him, he is like an artist or a designer wanting to have his work seen. Very cool guy.

[@lynnmei4346]

It is not even as half powerful as British longbow.

[@Elkatook666]

the least i could do was watch and appreciate the craftmanship in every piece. amazing

[@bakerkawesa]

The Japanese take quality and durability very seriously. And I admire them for that.

[@Bleckyyyy]

if you would buy 20000€ teapot in europe it would probably be good quality aswell xD

[@robbieaulia6462]

@@Bleckyyyy it'll probably be just made of gold

[@Aikano9]

They can’t compete on price with imported goods, so they instead strive for peak quality.

[@ExtremeGrips]

the tea pot is from China

[@Daves_Not_Here_Man_76]

Too bad the katana is such a shitty weapon

[@theexplorer4873]

These People Are Working Hard So That Their Cultures Can Remain In This World And World Can See Them Hats Off To Them

[@houssembensafi9303]

I think the uniqueness of such craftsmanship expensive or inexpensive has a larger value than that of it’s monetary one, theses are the way in which these people from their respective cultures were able to bring their culture and value systems into real objects that exemplify how that specific culture sees the world and how they choose to navigate. It’s the truer appreciation of someone else perspective that’s at the heart of its value.

[@Monkey_11]

The bow maker is a legend.

[@DJCloudy_]

I have so much respect for these crafts and the people keeping them alive

[@atom1236]

ayyy, i live in ubon ratchathani! awesome to see our culture being acknowledged by foreigners. i've love you guys video for a long time, was not expecting you to make a video that include in depth detail of gongs. thanks for making it!

[@zayzay7220]

This is what the world is missing now a days. These people take pride in their work and want a quality and perfect product. These days people do things to get things done

[@sabihatanveer8494]

The gongs are amazing, a lot of inteiceies seem to have gone in producing every one of them

[@seanriopel3132]

The hamon on samurai sword and Jamon Iberico (Spanish ham) are two of the most expensive things. What a coincidence.

[@Errcyco]

The Japanese katana Damascus is fascinating stuff. Absolute skill and patience. Perfection IS attained, through calm and hard work.

[@mrfunkyfrog9677]

Mark.

[@naruomi9477]

It’s not Damascus it’s high carbon steel

[@Ryan-vl2nn]

The clay itself has a beautiful luster. Fascinating.

[@IanZainea1990]

Something I truly appreciate about Eastern cultures, and something I think the west could benefit greatly from, is their appreciation for refinement. We are very focused on the new, reinvention. Whereas, at least in some regards, like in these crafts, Eastern cultures are focused on improvement and... Idk, making the best of what you got instead of trying to discard it all for what might be on the other side of the fence

[@brandonmcgillis]

Very well put !

[@Yhoshua_B]

Agreed! Quality over quantity would be a nice change of pace.

[@pinkymii072]

@@Yhoshua_B sadly this whole 'quantity over quality' thing is deliberate so greedier companies can make more money-eg. with Apple making new phones every year rather than updating the hardware and software of their older ones. Do you know a place to get a phone repaired where they don't just say 'get a new one'? That's why. Same with fast fashion, game developers getting rushed, etc. They care about the dollars and not the final product.

[@IanZainea1990]

@@pinkymii072 The whole system is sad, the whole culture. not just the symptom

[@Cooldude-ko7ps]

@@pinkymii072 yeah. The game devs themselves may care about making sure the game is finished and stable on release but publishers like EA rush them. Though there are a few game dev companies who rush things as well.

[@Buds-nf6dv]

Those tea pots are beautiful

[@tavakolmeskini3028]

Wow, It is facinating!

[@madMARTYNmarsh1981]

the Japanese make art out of everything they do, even electronics. Such an admirable ethic.

[@vaibhavbamrara3106]

Please make more of these videos about different craftsmanship

[@isabellastockhall3588]

Don’t give up u r loved

[@morosso1968]

that soothing calming voice of the female doing the voice over can keep me watching these such beautiful amazing documentaries for hours. who are you?

[@solstice1133]

These crafts are truly elegant. Shoutout to those who carry the traditions alive!

[@rishgoel1510]

It's feels so good to see such types of business videos! ♥️

[@camillac.s.279]

Maybe because the success of these products is rooted in tradition and not istantaneity .. 😏😏

[@1GotMyxomatosis]

I like these business videos a lot especially the world wide waste ones also I like the carried on crafts from many years ago videos

[@piplup10203854]

The sharpening and slicing of that kitchen knife is the most satisfying thing I’ve ever seen. Those cuts are beautiful and I love seeing the knife being sharpened ☺️

[@Top10moist]

Amazing

[@uwtz4293]

Theses videos are great!

Surely some great Wallhangers there

[@oliviaboadi7167]

Beautiful

[@richardowususablah7949]

Nice work

[@AK_Studioz]

The Japanese bow maker definitely deserves more recognition 🤩

[@thedaniel...]

I need one of those teapots to make my earl grey

[@melisandremormontest]

Great

[@prabhushankar8520]

Good .

[@frankbills8172]

Nice

[@BM13590]

interesting

[@samuelquartey4767]

Very reasonable

[@let_uslunch8884]

Quality. Getting what you pay for 👍🤗💗

[@GEOsustainable]

Laminar flow is what she did by hand, amazing.

[@bombanello1777]

great video, but it would be interesting to see something about European craftsmanship as well. After all, Europe has a long history as well

[@johnylalrina1451]

Like what?

[@georgludwigrudolfmaercker5600]

@@johnylalrina1451 clock makers, custom firearms, cloths, stone sculpting, bakeries

[@antcommander1367]

@@johnylalrina1451 making traditional puukko

[@snoot6629]

@@georgludwigrudolfmaercker5600 I wanna see European Book binders Tile makers Metal workers Jewelers Rock carvers Frame makers Miniature makers

[@davidkatz8270]

Woo-hoo you've hit upon the open secret of critical theory. You see, according to modern critical theory, whites have no culture, history, or ability. Let's ignore the woodworkers who make inlay, violins, and pianos. Ignore the French spun linen fabric which is smooth as silk and twice as durable. Or the paintings, cathedrals, the English and Swedish tool steels, etc. Apparently if your white, you don't have the exotic enough nature to make a video about.

[@narwhal004]

You should post links to where to buy some of these goods.

[@saltybuckeye]

The intro answers the question you ask.

[@darylwilson9124]

The thumbnail looks delicious.

[@johnpartridge7623]

The Japanese seem to put their Heart & Soul into the products they make

[@octocreeper8182]

In an alternate universe, 5 minute crafts, is called, *5 century crafts.*

[@afiqafiqafiq21]

35 min? lessego *open dinner box

[@contrazoid]

>"Around the world, people dedicate their lives to preserving the traditional crafts of their culture." >all of it is in east asia

[@brahmburgers]

I would often go to a Temple in Shan State, Burma - where there was the largest gong I've even been close to. I would stand very near it and bang it once, and feel in my chest, my gonads, and throughout the body for about 20 seconds. It was about 5.5 ft. diameter, .... in Tachilek. The temple had scores of red roofs.

[@ekkanofiqandriyana7325]

In Java culture we made the gong entirely from brass

[@PuneetMehra]

These are all excellent videos. The only issue - these are repeated videos posted earlier. Request you to make new such videos.

[@sequoiafire5349]

They are new to me 🙂

[@SA-bc6jw]

In the beginning and in the description it says that this is a "look back"

[@resonanttotality8322]

"When we let things convey unto us, that is true artistic expression, but when when we try to convey ourselves onto things, that is delusion." - Dogen

[@CaptainForest34]

[gong sounds]

[@kentlofgren]

19:15 Vars ä hörselkåporna?

[@ashelyfrankow149]

2 grand for a bow. yea, go look at hunting bows, that not far off the price. High quality is a premium, and add in the fact that the laminated bamboo bows are a functional piece of art, made by a master artisan/engineer who as devoted his life to the art. Well worth the money i would say.

[@mindset--]

Legends know something re-upload in this video am old subscriber

[@NIGHTOWL-jf9zt]

They should bring back the Gong show. R.I.P Chuck Berris.

[@Glockenstein0869]

While some Japanese knife makers used high speed steel prior to WWII, British and American knife makers have been using 'High Speed Steel '( Invented in the late 1800's in Britain) since 1900 and were the first to do so. So, I hate to burst any bubbles but that is just the facts of history.

[@cn4526]

How much is the sword?

[@othinus]

Thousands of dollars.

[@brandonmcgillis]

I got a Japanese chef knife from global and it’s so damn sharp .

[@muddyhotdog4103]

You can sharpen a metal ruler to be razor sharp, what matters is how well/long it holds its edge.. it'll all need resharpening in the long run. Sometimes something right in the middle that holds its edge well, yet not so well that it's hard to sharpen to a good edge is best to some. It's all subjective

[@sachinmistry1]

I have a Global as well. Its such a great knife! Do you use a whetstone?

[@pauljmorton]

I'd like to see how those gongs were made before welding was invented.

[@aztecaXV]

Soundtrack listing?

[@erickauffmann_official]

Those blades look like they could cut an elephant in half

[@rodneypratt4324]

Yes they can cut through Steel sure. That's the mark of an excellent samurai sword

[@erickauffmann_official]

@@rodneypratt4324 unbelievable!

[@MikeGuadango]

@@rodneypratt4324 no they can’t. You watch too many movies my man

[@jonajo9757]

@@rodneypratt4324 If anything, you're to dull or chip the blade if it had a hardness higher than the edge itself.

[@Theryanmjones]

Is this the music from factorio?

[@5FIVE6CHRIS]

Did anyone else find out how much they love hearing Chinese in that tone. Or is it just me

[@itachianddrakenswife5418]

The fact that he is making a sword…but without any gloves on his hands…

[@babygorilla4233]

its sad to think how many tritonal trades and crafts will die forever in the next few generations. And they will be dead. people will reverse engineer things and learn to make them, but its the tradition, the skill, the soul of these crafts that will die. The methods in traditional crafts create amazing unique results that cannot be achieved with the "optimal" method of production.

[@Solvang_circus]

11:34 is this a good or a bad teapot? Looks like it is leaking.

[@koiyujo1543]

I'm the one thousand like baby!

[@WadeMFilms]

34:00 Test your might.

[@Boypogikami132]

I think I remember a dude who made a katana out of a rusted chain.

[@Todd3246]

I saw a youtube on one of the japanese knife sets for sale for like $1400 reduced to $400, the maker of the video discovered they used the cheapest stainless available making the knife not as good as a $10 Kmart knife. If you buy anything make sure its the real thing using high quality stainless or steel, (the level of stainless is determined primarily by the chromium content). Buyer beware

[@GEOsustainable]

Pay attention when she says, 'Clay is not a renewable resource.' First goes clay, then goes glass.

[@godleveleldritchblast5257]

I disagree with that statement. Clay can be ground down back into dust and reconstituted into clay same with glass and metals. Nothing is not renewable it's more people not using their heads.

[@zyxw2000]

@@godleveleldritchblast5257 The particular clay used in those pots, from Yixing, China, is in short supply.

[@godleveleldritchblast5257]

@@zyxw2000 yeah I know but you can still take clay that was used and grind it back down into clay. Just because you fire it doesn't mean it's changed its properties as a clay. It's still clay. As for that particular type of clay, that reminds me of when the rock sugilite was discovered in Japan. They were like it's the only source of this rare mineral then two years later they discovered it in South Africa. They will find a new source for that clay, the condition for the formation of that clay is not specific to just that one area. But I will also say this clay is clay. Just because it's a "special" clay, doesn't make it anything else but a clay. It's like saying get is better then anthracite, they are both coal.

[@green1814]

There aren't enough great crafts people skilled anymore like this.

[@shena1256]

I would love to own a Japanese knife. I have to have a good knife if I am cooking. When I go to someones house and they don't have a good kitchen knife I question everything about them.

[@pappyshea2944]

Absolutely! Thats why i carry a personal knife set in my truck at all times. When people know you can cook, they want you to. Might as well have your own tools to do it with. The crap knives that most people use are just insane and should be thrown in the trash. Just sayin. :)

[@artisdying]

Humans must be absolutely unique in the sense that they praise an admittedly very well processed piece of earth but wouldn't even hesitate a second to use it to cut one of their own up to pieces.

[@jasonwu3941]

Wtf is this comment. Do you even hear what you’re saying?

[@artisdying]

@@jasonwu3941 Yes?

[@jasonwu3941]

@@artisdying the reason they praise the well processed piece of earth is because they can cut it up and put it into their own creation. 🤦‍♂️

[@zyxw2000]

@@jasonwu3941 The American education system has failed you. Too bad.

[@jasonwu3941]

@@zyxw2000 totally irrelevant non argument

[@paieaw3401]

6:11 the way she said her hands get tired😂

[@SanjanaRanasingha]

What

[@sosredrino4762]

Hello

[@jeremypee4128]

Its not Zee-sha teapot, its Tze-Sha teapot.

[@ghatotkach123]

Please do a video on a luxury watch brand

[@jawadjawad4524]

350 million year old,ohhhh

[@Redman147]

I've always wanted to practice Kyudo after watching an anime about it. I just felt that everything about it would help me attain a better version of myself. I've had a lot of bad things happen in life and I've nearly given up quite a few times. I've even completely considered and even planned to take my own life on on occasion. Unfortunately Kyudo isn't something popular in America and I don't have the money to move to Japan as medical bills are piled sky high.

[@ignis369]

You can practice recurve bow archery much more affordably.

[@davidkatz8270]

Life isn't an anime. Archery is a personal hobby but not something that affects your actual value, or your value to those around you. Let's say you become a world famous archer, are people supposed to just cheer you on and support you despite you not helping them at all? Try woodworking or something that you can use to benefit those around you, and you will find that "better version of yourself". Everyone has bad times in life, and those that dwell upon it end up pathetic. Those that forgive, forget, and move on go on to do great things. Mentioning it in a KZbin comment about craftsmen means you haven't let go and moved on.

[@RPG31ninja]

im never thought about it till now, if it takes months to make one of these swords, they must work like 1 hour a day lol.... iv watched enough blacksmithing to know that, and he is using a power hammer... so how could it take more then 2 weeks tops to make a beautiful blade..

[@C4Cole05]

They probably make a lot of blades at once so they can only spend a bit of time on each blade. Also if they are using the traditionally horrible quality iron sand to make blades it would take a lot longer since they would need to process the iron sand into a nice billet which I would imagine take a hell of a long time.

[@davidkatz8270]

You've found the lie. Like the Chinese woman taking one day to make a pour spout for a kettle. Nevermind she makes 300 of them in a day.

[@LionWithTheLamb]

@@davidkatz8270 I believe that she said, "It can take a whole day to make". If she was busy doing something else then yes, it could have taken an entire day. Her wording of it makes it technically not a lie.

[@jonajo9757]

@@C4Cole05 Iron sands isn't really a bad source, though bloomery steels would be considered bad if we're using modern standards than historical ones.

[@C4Cole05]

​@@jonajo9757 It could be worse, but its made worse by the lack of modern tech, probably more than the lack of modern tech for other methods. Without a strong electromagnet it would be very difficult to purify the iron sand very much before smelting it.

[@LilMozart-]

Noti gang

[@julienweems6166]

*beats clay with mallet until flat* Narrator: "This could take a year to learn how to do correctly"

[@AvoPie]

hi

[@zmhaha]

Never give a proper justification for the titles. Only speculative descriptions.

[@SuperBeantank]

i can easily see if u bring katana your bully wont mess with u that day

[@robsonez]

Explain why there are only 180 japanese sword smiths... The Japanese were banned from making them after WW2 and only allow a specific amount of swords to be produced by specially licensed smiths. That's why they are so expensive...

[@GusCraft460]

While I do hold the efforts and skills of traditional Japanese swordsmiths in very high regard, the process that they use is completely unnecessary now. The folding of the steel is not needed with modern ore processing. The technique used in traditional Japanese swordsmithing was only necessary because of the poor quality of the easily accessible iron ore in Japan, and smelting furnaces that couldn’t get hot enough to fully melt the iron. These aren’t issues anymore. The folding does nothing but increase the labor.

[@sterlingodeaghaidh5086]

because its art, plain and simple

[@matthewmarting3623]

Depends on if you like having tamahagane or not. Yeah, you can crank out monosteel katanas by the hour (and the steel definitely has better QC) but even with a hamon they don’t look anywhere near as good as a traditional one.

[@GusCraft460]

@@matthewmarting3623 if looks could kill, but they can’t. As a weapon of war and not a piece of decoration, modern steel alloys are the far better choice. If you want something pretty to look at buy a painting.

[@khust2993]

@@GusCraft460 Mate, the blacksmith literally said he's making swords for blade collectors and temples for ceremonial stuff, so he's doing it in traditional way as much as possible. I don't think anyone is buying katanas for taking lives at this age. Some cultures just really have appreciation beyond swords' practical use. Sure he'll probably produce more, faster and probably better quality if he switch to modern steel, but that makes him no different from those sweatshops from India or China nor from those Western factories churning out plenty soulless and uninteresting blades.

[@GusCraft460]

@@khust2993 no, those shitty swords are just punched out blanks ground into shape.

[@moses1202]

Nice content 😊 And I understand both Japanese and Chinese 😅😅😅 No subs needed

[@mellow5123]

Mm that's not Shibata Sensei. He died some years ago. Maybe it's his son?

[@kid_missive]

6:15 :3

[@physics77guy]

the gong thing is like pan instrument from Caribbean which is way more complex than these gongs

[@terrorkind]

Look, man. Aint nobody making a sword for 18 months and then selling it for anything other than a one-and-a-half-year-salary.

[@Balla1309able]

The bow maker engineer is a Boss they sell to the rich and would rather cater to the common folk

[@jasrajsingh1240]

any thing japanese : it takes years to master

[@trivialtrav]

I guarantee that in a double blind test, tea made in these pots would be indistinguishable from cheaper ones. Art appreciation is fine, but "enhancing the tea" is nonsense. It's the same in the wine industry. So called "experts" consistently fail to identify expensive wines from cheap ones in actual controlled tests. So much so that they often refuse to do them.

[@fieryjack73]

Sorry my friends, but PAISTE is NOT located in Germany nor from Germany at all. It is founded in Switzerland by a Swiss Family!

[@hm9150]

There is so much incorrect information in this video it is astounding that they would actually publish it

[@fc1133]

Takes her 8-10 days to make a Teapot that she can sell for up to 30k? Really now? I doubt that SHE gets all the money.