What Was the "Craftsmanship" of That Era?

The "Folk Craft Movement," which emerged in the late Taisho to early Showa periods, was an activity that identified unique Japanese beauty and craftsmanship in everyday items used by common people, rather than in fine art, and brought their value to the world's attention.

Bernard Leach, a British potter and one of the founders of the Folk Craft Movement, visited Japan between 1934 and 1935. He personally filmed the Japanese craft scene using 16mm equipment, which was rare at the time.

These films capture the figures of movement founders such as Sōetsu Yanagi, Shōji Hamada, and Kanjiro Kawai, as well as the diverse natural environments of Japan at that time. They are now invaluable historical materials.

Canadian filmmaker Marty Gross has now located these films and digitized them.

While reviewing the content of the films, Mr. Gross continues to produce video works on the theme of folk craft and to unearth visual materials sleeping in Japan.

The exhibition "Folk Craft Movement Film Archive: Seeking Nameless Beauty 1934-2017" explores what the craftsmanship of the past was like through the precious films left by our predecessors, and seeks hints for living that connect to the future.

Additionally, the exhibition will feature a talk event with Kyoji Sugiyama, the curator of the Japan Folk Crafts Museum, discussing the work of the Folk Craft Movement members and the movement itself. Furthermore, filmmaker and producer Martin Gross will host an event explaining the restoration and editing process of the discovered films, with visual references.

Talk Event: "The Folk Craft Movement and the Japan Folk Crafts Museum"
Date | Thursday, February 2, 2017
Time | 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM (Reception opens 30 minutes prior)
Venue | MUJI Yurakucho 2F ATELIER MUJI
Speaker | Kyoji Sugiyama (Curator, Japan Folk Crafts Museum)
Admission | Free

Talk Event: "What the Folk Craft Film Archive Leaves for the Future"
Date | Thursday, March 23, 2017
Time | 6:30 PM - 7:20 PM (Reception opens 30 minutes prior)
Venue | MUJI Yurakucho 2F ATELIER MUJI
Speaker | Martin Gross (Film Director/Producer)
Admission | Free

"Folk Craft Movement Film Archive: Seeking Nameless Beauty 1934-2017" Exhibition
Period | Friday, January 27 - Sunday, March 26, 2017
Hours | 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Venue | MUJI Yurakucho 2F ATELIER MUJI
3-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Infoss Yurakucho