The year 2026 marks two major milestones: the 100th anniversary of the 1926 publication of the prospectus proposing the establishment of a museum dedicated to folk crafts, and the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Japan Folk Crafts Museum (Nihon Mingeikan). To commemorate these occasions, the museum in Komaba, Tokyo, will present the special exhibition “Soetsu Yanagi and Nihon Mingeikan.” The exhibition will be held from June 6 to August 12, 2026.

Founded by Soetsu Yanagi, the museum has long served as a central institution for the study and appreciation of Mingei (folk crafts). Yanagi advocated the idea that “true beauty resides in ordinary everyday objects made by anonymous craftsmen,” a philosophy that continues to shape the understanding of Japanese folk art today. Through recreations of the museum’s original exhibition spaces and an exploration of the historical process behind its establishment, the exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to reconsider the spirit of Mingei and the enduring significance of the Japan Folk Crafts Museum.

The exhibition is structured around four distinct perspectives: “Recreation,” “The Journey,” “Design,” and “Mounting Layouts.” Within the main building of the Japan Folk Crafts Museum, part of the museum’s permanent exhibition as it appeared at the time of its 1936 opening will be partially reconstructed based on surviving archival materials. Although only limited visual documentation of the original displays remain, the project aims to revive the atmosphere of the museum’s founding within the same historic structure that continues to stand today. The exhibition also traces the decade-long journey from the publication of the museum prospectus to the official opening of the museum through books, magazines, early exhibition-related materials, and objects formerly housed in Mikuniso, an important center of the Mingei movement in the Kansai region.

In addition, the exhibition highlights the comprehensive design philosophy of Soetsu Yanagi, whose vision extended beyond craft objects to architecture and interior design, encompassing wallpaper, lighting fixtures, and display cases. Carefully considered mounting layouts — including the selection and combination of materials and colors — further reveal Yanagi’s refined aesthetic sensibility and his commitment to presenting each work in its most compelling form.

A century has passed since the term “Mingei” was first coined. Today, what calls for renewed attention may be not only the beauty of handcrafted objects themselves, but also the visionary perspective of Soetsu Yanagi, who sought to transform everyday life and reimagine the future role of museums through folk crafts. Marking the 90th anniversary of the Japan Folk Crafts Museum, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience Yanagi’s philosophy and spatial vision firsthand, while reconsidering the enduring relevance of the Mingei movement in contemporary society.

Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of Its Foundation: “Soetsu Yanagi and Nihon Mingeikan”
Dates: June 6 – August 12, 2026
Opening hours: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Last admission 4:30 pm)
Closed: Every Monday
* Open if Monday is a national holiday, closed the following Tuesday.
Venue: The Japan Folk Crafts Museum (4-3-33 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo)

Admission:
– Adults: JPY1,500
– Students: JPY800
* Free admission for junior high school students and under.

Website: https://mingeikan.or.jp/special/ex202606/?lang=en

*For further details, please refer to the official website.

Photo courtesy of the Japan Folk Crafts Museum