Japanese Folk Arts and Japanese Crafts
Mingei is a Japanese word coined by Dr. Soetsu Yanagi in 1925 meaning 'arts of the people.' He combined two Japanese words min (for all people) and gei (art). Dr. Yanagi noticed many beautiful and useful art objects are made by unknown craftsmen. He realized that Japanese crafts are also Japanese art.
Ceramics, bamboo baskets, textiles and wood objects are all considered fine examples of mingei. An object which is used in everyday life, made in a simple and unaffected style - not for the sake of pure art - is mingei. Function is more important than form.
For further information on Dr. Yanagi and mingei, visit the website Japanese Folk Craft Museum.
Many other traditional crafts from Japan are very unique and reflect the spirit of the people and environment of the area where they are created. The study of the history of textiles in Japan is especially fascinating with unique garments such as the kimono.
For more about the subject of Japanese crafts in general, visit the Open Directory Project.