TheJapan Folk Crafts Museum (Japanese:日本民藝館,Hepburn:Nihon Mingeikan) is amuseum in the 4th city block ofKomaba, Meguro Ward,Tokyo, Japan, dedicated to the collecting, preserving, researching, and exhibition of the hand-crafted art of ordinary people,mingei, often translated as folk crafts. Access is fromKomaba-Tōdaimae Station ofKeio Inokashira Line.
The museum covers 1,818 square meters and was constructed with a traditional Japanese architectural style. A 'long' stone-roofed gate-cum-residence (nagaya-mon) was brought fromTochigi Prefecture and reconstructed in front of the building.[1]
Founded in 1936 byYanagi Sōetsu, a religious philosopher, scholar, art researcher, and advocate in researching folk crafts. It is currently managed by The Japanese Folk Crafts Museum Foundation, a public interest corporation (The Japanese Folk Crafts Museum Foundation,Corporate Number (Assigned by Japan's National Tax Agency):9013205001720 ) operating from the museum.
The founder, Yanagi Sōetsu, wanted to showcase various types of Japanese and Koreanpottery/porcelain,textile arts,lacquer ware, wood and bamboo crafts, and the unknown artisans making these everyday items. Some other specific examples included are Korea'sJoseon Period artistic handicrafts and wooden Buddhist statues carved by Mokujiki. The focus on introducing these various types ofart history that previously had not been properly appreciated, not considered westernfine art or an expensive antique, or by unknown craftsman created theMingei movement. Inspired by Korean crafts,Yanagi Sōetsu's fascination with folk art developed through multiple trips to Korea during the Japanese colonial period. He defined folk crafts based on how they were made, wanting to highlight the beauty in that which was made by non-professional artists for more utilitarian purposes.[2]
The museum was established in 1936 byYanagi Sōetsu, the founder of themingei movement;Hamada Shōji succeeded him as its director.[3][4] Yanagi and Hamada officially announced their desire to establish a folk crafts museum in 1926.[1] Construction began on the museum in 1935 and was completed in 1936.[1]
Yanagi moved back to Tokyo in January 1935 and in March received an offer of 100,000 yen from businessman,Magosaburō Ōhara (founder ofKuraray,Ohara Museum of Art, and The Ohara Institute for Social Research, Hosei University) to help fund opening a museum. In September 1936, the Japanese Folk Crafts Museum was opened next to his house. Yanagi was the first director and the opening exhibition was an "Exhibition of Crafts by Contemporary Artists,” containing work from potters such asShōji Hamada,Kawai Kanjirō, andTomimoto Kenkichi.
It is built where the original main hall was and is connected to the main building.[citation needed]. The original main hall was dismantled and reconstructed in Toyota City's folk art museum.[6]
In 2001 each building was reinforced/renovated with support from theNippon Foundation and financial world/business circles.
The museum has published a number of books about its collection and special exhibitions, including the following:
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