Kawai Kanjiro
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Kawai Kanjiro (born 24 August 1890, Yasugi, Japan died 18 November 1966, Kyoto) was a Japanese potter and a key figure in mingei (Japanese folk art) and studio pottery movements.
Kanjiro graduated from the Tokyo Higher Polytechnical School in 1914 and worked briefly at the Kyoto Research Institute for Ceramics. In 1920 he built his own kiln in Kyoto and began to give exhibitions.
As a potter he sought to combine modern methods of manufacture with traditional Japanese and English designs. He was alsoan artist, calligrapher, sculptor, writer and philosopher.
Kanjiro refused all official honours, including Living National Treasure, and his pots were unsigned.
His house (restored in 1937) in Gojozaka, Kyoto is now a museum. Besides a display of his ceramics, some of his sculpture and woodcarvings are included in the collection. His house incorporates both Japanese and Western living styles, so one can see both tansu and tatami and also some Western furnishings. His studio and noborigama kiln are to the rear of the museum.
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