Silver products were widely used by townspeople in Tokyo during the Edo period. For example, silver coins were minted in Ginza, and silver ornaments became popular. After the Meiji period, Japan also exported many silver vases and other items, as the nation welcomed a growing number of foreign visitors, and the demand for silver products also grew. Accordingly, Tokyo – in particular, Taito Ward – became a major production center for silver crafts. Silversmiths made a wide variety of products such as tableware, ornaments, and figurines using traditional techniques passed down from the Heian period. These techniques included metal forging (pounding silver bullion into a round shape such as a pot), metal engraving (using a chisel to carve or stamp a pattern into the surface), kiribame (inserting inlay of another metal into part of a design), and soldering. Tokyo Ginki is characterized by its quality, beauty, and durability, and it was designated as a traditional craft by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in 1979.