Japan's Imperial family has long taken under its patronage craftsmen whose works now form a treasured collection handed down over generations. During the Meiji period (1868-1912), when trade with other countries was resumed after 200 years, the artisans' skills and creations became a matter of national prestige. From exquisite ceramics, cloisonné and tapestry to a masterpiece of metalwork that cannot be replicated, this is the little-known drama behind the Imperial Collection of Japanese art.