Gender and Japanese FolkArt: Shunkei Lacquers and Edo Hagoita

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Although folk art is considered a core element of “Japan-ness”, little attention has been paid to the gender aspect of its production, distribution, and representation. This collaborative study by Mexican and Japanese scholars examines two types of Japanese folk art, which differ not only in their production and use, but also in their recognition as “authentic” Japanese folk art. Shunkei lacquer from Takayama, a mountainous region in Gifu prefecture, is a product of its natural environment, and because of its simple, elegant beauty has been conferred the title of “National Folk Craft” since the 1970s. Edo-Hagoita, the product of the flourishing urban, popular culture of Edo, the old name of today’s capital of Japan, is widely known by its elaborate decoration and the lively street market where it is sold. Its official recognition, however, is limited within the metropolitan Tokyo. This study examines the socio-cultural background of folk art in Japan, including the important influence of the Mingei Movement and its ideas. It describes the role of men and women in the artistic process of creating these objects, and points to their unequal visibility in folk art representations.

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