The Exhibition

Japan 1926 - 1945

The Mingei (Folk Crafts) movement in Japan was led by the philosopher and critic Yanagi Sôetsu and officially established in 1926. It was equivalent to, and very largely inspired by, the Arts and Crafts Movement in Britain and Europe. John Ruskin and William Morris, whose work had been available since the1880s,were major influences. Knowledge about subsequent developments in Europe also reached Japan.

As with other Arts and Crafts developments, the Mingei movement emerged during a time of rapid change. In Japan, this involved westernisation as well as industrialisation and urban growth. Mingei philosophy recognised this international and urban dimension, but at the same time asserted a new sense of Japanese national identity.

Introducing the idea that humble goods could be inherently beautiful, leaders of the Mingei movement advocated the use of historical folk crafts as the starting point for new craft production. They assembled extensive collections and founded museums to house them. They also created model rooms in an ambitious attempt to persuade the middle classes to adopt a new hybrid lifestyle that combined both Japanese and western features.