Edo Moku-Chokoku is a traditional Japanese woodcarving craft that flourished during the Edo period, when woodworkers and other skilled craftsmen gathered in Edo (now Tokyo) as part of the sankin-kotai system. Implemented by the Tokugawa Shogunate, the system required daimyō (feudal lords) to live in Edo, the Shogunate's capital, part of the time. Carpenters engaged in architectural construction began adapting their carving methods to create a wider variety of items ranging from temple sculptures to household furnishings. Edo Moku-Chokoku craftsmen use many different chisels to sculpt wood, creating detailed and finely rendered designs. Motifs such as branches, birds, and characters are common. The Edo Moku-Chokoku craft tradition remains alive and well today, especially in areas of Tokyo such as Taito Ward where there are many shrines and temples.