Japanese Folk Crafts Museum

The Nippon Mingeikan, Japan Folk Crafts Museum, was founded in 1936 by philosopher and critic Yanagi Soetsu at the southwest edge of Komaba Park in Tokyo's Meguro ward. Yanagi coined the term "mingei" (art of the people) as a counter to Meiji-era industrialism; the museum collects anonymous everyday craftwork. Its 17,000 objects include stoneware from Onta and Mashiko, woven rice-straw sandals, indigo-dyed farm textiles from Tohoku, and Korean Joseon ceramics. The main building, with post-and-beam construction and white plaster walls, was designed by Yanagi himself using salvaged timbers and stone slabs; his rustic-style residence stands opposite and opens only a few days each month.