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Made by hand in Japan and on display in London

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THIS IS AN exhibition you should not miss if you are in London anytime before 10 May 2026. It is being held at Japan House London in High Street Kensington, and is called “Hyakkō”. This Japanese word means ‘one hundred makers’. The exhibition is a display of 2000 handmade works made by 123 craftsmen and craftswomen in Japan. The exhibits are all exquisitely made. They are made using one or more of the following materials: ceramics, wood, metals, leather, and glass,

The works are attractively displayed, labelled, and well-lit. Accompanying the exhibits, there is a series of beautifully filmed videos. Each of these shows the makers at work in their studios and workshops in Japan. The videos show how natural materials are gathered, processed, and then transformed into fine examples of applied art.  Many of the items seen being made in the films can be found in the exhibition. Watching the videos is an important part of enjoying the exhibition because you begin to appreciate the skill and artistry employed to create what you can see close-up in the show. I would advise you to watch the screenings first, and then to view the products of the skilful creators who appear in the films.

Not only are the creations wonderful in themselves, but the way that they have been exhibited is a work of art. Whoever designed the exhibition seems to share the superb aesthetic sensibilities of those who created the exhibits. It is worth visiting Kensington to enjoy this visual treat from Japan.

Japanese by design in London’s Kensington

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SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I watched a wonderful film set in Japan and directed by Wim Wenders: “Perfect Days”. Set in Tokyo, the main character is a man who cleans the city’s public toilets. Each of the public conveniences he cleans is of a different design. And each of them, like so many things designed in Japan, is a beautiful work of art. Making things and places look special and visually pleasing seems to be an important feature of the Japanese philosophy of life, and has been since time immemorial. Yet, unlike many other countries, Japan has not yet established a dedicated national design museum.

Until the 8th of September 2024, the Japan House in High Street Kensington is hosting an exhibition called “Design Discoveries”. The website of the Japan House (www.japanhouselondon.uk/whats-on/design-discoveries-towards-a-design-museum-japan/) explained:

“This exhibition brings together seven major designers, from filmmakers to architects, to consider what they would put into a permanent collection of design treasures. Their personal responses capture Japan’s regional diversity and 10,000 years of history.”

The beautifully laid out exhibition is not merely educational but also a feast for the eyes. Examples of Japanese design (and technology) dating from about 4500 years ago to the present century are beautifully displayed and intelligently explained.

Should the Japanese eventually get around to creating a museum of design, I am certain that visiting it would be a very exciting experience. Meanwhile, if you can get to Japan House – a beautifully designed place – you should not miss visiting the exhibition in its basement.