Feb 19, 2021 · Mingei, Japanese folk art, in particular is the most influential and its unique design ethos is a huge inspiration for contemporary designers, both in Japan and around the world. Take a look at how the Mingei movement came to be, what …

The concept of mingei (民芸), variously translated into English as "folk craft", "folk art" or "popular art", was developed from the mid-1920s in Japan by a philosopher and aesthete, Yanagi Sōetsu (1889–1961), together with a group of craftsmen, including the potters Hamada Shōji (1894–1978) and Kawai Kanjirō (1890–1966).

Jan 23, 2025 · One of the most important art, design and philosophical movements to come out of Japan is now nearly a hundred years old. It's called Mingei, or folk crafts. It reflects a reaction to modernity...

Mar 11, 2025 · In April 1926, the term ‘Mingei’ was unveiled in the founding manifesto of what would later become the Japan Folk Crafts Museum (Nihon Mingei-kan). This document established the principles of the project, which would only come to fruition after ten years of effort. The Mingei movement for folk art left a lasting impact on Japanese art and ...

Nov 3, 2024 · Explore Japanese folk art through 10 timeless facts that reveal the beauty, tradition, and cultural richness of Japan’s mingei crafts.

Folk art - Japanese, Crafts, Textiles: Pottery and toys are probably the most widespread kinds of Japanese folk art; but there are also innumerable typical objects—lanterns, fans, umbrellas, nested boxes, and kites—exhibiting skillful use of bamboo and paper, as well as wood, lacquer, and other materials.

The originator of the Mingei movement is Yanagi Soetsu (1889–1961). About 90 years ago, he traveled around Japan visiting people doing various kinds of handwork and published information about...

Dec 11, 2016 · When you visit Japan, make sure to take advantage of this opportunity to check out boro fashion, the Japan Folk Crafts Museum, and other kinds of Mingei folk art, and learn about the fascinating history and culture they represent!

In 1936, with potters Kanjiro Kawai and Shoji Hamada, he opened the first Japan Folk Craft Museum (Nihon Mingei-kan). It stands for arts of the people returned to the people. Yanagi explains the concept of mingei in his seminal work, The Unknown Craftsman:

Aug 28, 2023 · Within Japan, the folk art movement was spearheaded by Soetsu Yanagi, a philosopher, an essayist, a scholar of Zen and tea, and a man altogether wholly devoted to a life in pursuit of aesthetics and beauty.