Under the theme “The Attributes of Kogei: How Can We Reframe Craft?,” Go for Kogei 2025 explores the diverse ways of living shaped by the various practices of artists and craftspeople as they engage with materials and techniques.
Yanagi Muneyoshi (Soetsu) (1889–1961), the founder of the Mingei movement, described in his essay Kogeiteki naru mono (Craft-like Attributes)* how the intonation of train announcements or a barber’s scissor work could be seen as craft-like attributes, recognizing craftsmanship in even human actions and disposition. For Yanagi, “craft-like attributes” were not about personal artistic expression but rather something rooted in an aesthetic or style shared by society as a whole—where beauty and value are imbued. If we can perceive things as craft-like, whether tangible or intangible, then “craft” reveals itself as something far more integrated into society and broader in scope than we might imagine today.
On the other hand, if society as a whole were to lose what it once shared, would Yanagi’s concept of “craft-like attributes” still be relevant? In some respects, modernism has taken a path quite different from Yanagi’s views. Revisiting his concept in the present day, considered the late stage of modernism, as a lens to examine the relationship between craft and society may hold significant insight.
Starting from the craft-driven mindset of artists and craftspeople, Go for Kogei 2025 will go beyond the work themselves to explore the social interaction that emerges in the production process, the connections and dialogues sparked through the work, and the social dynamics that include moments of daily life. Additionally, the diverse application of the same materials will be highlighted—sometimes supporting daily life, sometimes shaping it, and other times enriching it. By framing “craftsmanship” within this broadening context, valuable insights into the roles of craft and art, both now and in the future, may be found.

*Published in Kogei, Issue No. 8 (1931)

Akimoto Yuji (Artistic Director)

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