Kawai Kanjiro

Kawai Kanjiro was a Kyoto-based potter and a central figure in the mingei (folk craft) movement. Born in Shimane Prefecture, he studied ceramics at the Tokyo Institute of Technology before establishing his studio in Kyoto.

Working alongside Shoji Hamada and Yanagi Sōetsu, Kawai helped articulate the philosophy of mingei, which celebrated the beauty of handmade everyday objects. His work explored a wide range of techniques including slip-trailing, marbling and slab-built construction.

Over the course of his career he developed increasingly sculptural vessels with bold glazes in cobalt, iron and copper red. His work is widely collected and remains central to the history of modern Japanese ceramics. Today his home and studio in Kyoto are preserved as the Kawai Kanjiro Memorial Museum, where his kiln, tools and works remain on view.