The Role of Sori Yanagi as an Curator of Japan Folk Crafts Museum

Abstract

Sori Yanagi (柳宗理,1915-2011)is the representative product designer of Japan. He was the first generation of Japanese industrial design who contributed to the establishment and development of product design in postwar period. He covered kitchen items, furniture, public facility design, graphics and so on, and he designs are still popular now.BR The achievements of Sori, which cannot be overlooked, he served as 3rd directorof the Japan Folk Crafts Museum for 29years from 1977(62yearsold) to 2006 (91yearsold).BR The Japan Folk Crafts Museum was founded by father of Sori, Soetu Yanagi. Although it was the base of the Mingei(Folk art) movement that support the spread of the concept of the Mingei and beauty-familiarization, but there was not enough cope with the change of modern society. So, Sori tried to perform his duty as a director with sense of duty that he should connect the Japan Folk Crafts Museum to the modern society.BR His achievement, he made during his 29years tenure, can be summarized in three major ways.BR First, it is the reconsider of the concept of Mingei and expansion of flok crafts objects that cope with the change of the society. He emphasized returning to the Mingei concept of the being healthy, free and practical. Moreover he extended his collection activities not only in Japan but also overseas. And he extended the object of Mingei with machine product as well as handicraft.BR Second is the quality improvement of graphic or exhibition display. Sori designed photography by himself and he designed Cover of