工藝 Kōgei

Kōgei was started by Yanagi Muneyoshi (柳宗悦, 1889–1961), together with his friends such as potters Kawai Kanjirō (河井寛次郎, 1890–1966) and Tomimoto Kenkichi (富本憲吉, 1886–1963). Its appearance marked the true beginning of the Japanese Mingei (Folk Craft) movement. This movement celebrates everyday handmade objects that are both useful and beautiful. It values the work of ordinary, often “unknown” craftspeople as Yanagi and his friends believed that daily objects could show great skill and beauty. They also established Nihon Mingei Kyōkai (Japan Folk Craft Association) to promote folk crafts.

The magazine includes articles about many different kinds of crafts. These include ceramics and pottery, textiles, dyeing and embroidery, paper making and bookbinding, woodblock prints, tea ceremony objects, folk paintings such as Ōtsu-e, Buddhist statues, signboards, masks, and many others. A few articles were written in English by contributors like Bernard Leach, showing the cultural exchanges between Japan and the West. The magazine also features craftsmanship from other places, including Korea and China.

Each issue has a beautifully designed cover that is a piece of art in its own right. For example, it includes the stencil-dyed cloth designs by the famous folk artist Serizawa Keisuke (芹沢銈介, 1895–1984).

This complete set of Kōgei is an important primary resource for learning and research. It enables researchers and students to explore Japanese art history, folk arts, decorative arts, everyday aesthetics, and the cultural connections between Japan and other countries.