Mingei Film Archive, 1934-2017

Japan's mingei (folk crafts) heritage, which celebrates the beauty of everyday items used by common folk throughout the ages, captivated Japan-raised British potter Bernard Leach (1887-1979) enough for the craftsman to return to the country of his childhood in 1934. Spending a year documenting the work of mingei artisans around Japan, Leach put together a unique archive of films on the topic. Remastered and edited by Canadian film producer and consultant Marty Gross, this material can now be viewed at Muji's Yurakucho store, where the second-floor Atelier Muji is screening it over two months. Stop by to take a look at how mingei giants such as Soetsu Yanagi, Shoji Hamada and Kanjiro Kawai worked to establish a movement that eventually earned folk crafts the respect they so well deserve.