Image: Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Tokyo
Seikado Museum of Art will present ‘Mingei SHOCK!!: Kawai Kanjirō of Seikado, 60 Years After His Death’ from 5 September to 8 November 2026 at Seikado @ Marunouchi, on the first floor of the Meiji Life Insurance Building in Tokyo.
The exhibition will show 51 works by Kawai Kanjirō from the museum’s collection, including the National Treasure ‘Yōhen Tenmoku (Inaba Tenmoku)’. Kawai (1890–1966) encountered Mingei, or folk craft, during the latter half of the Taishō period and made ceramics conscious of “beauty of use.” The exhibition examines sources for his creative work.
Works listed for the presentation include Kawai’s ‘Flowing-Painted Bowl’, from around 1931; ‘Purple-Red Gourd Jar’, from around 1929; ‘Yōhen Jar’, from around 1927; and ‘Neriage Bowl’, from 1935.
The museum will hold a special dialogue on 18 October, as well as slide talks by the exhibition’s curator on 19 and 27 September, 11 October and 7 November. The exhibition is open from 10am to 5pm, with extended hours on selected dates.
