The Beauty of Everyday Things

The Beauty of Everyday Things is an essential book for anyone who loves Japanese design, anonymous craftsmanship, and the beauty of everyday objects.

In this work, Soetsu Yanagi, a Japanese philosopher and the founder of the Japan Folk Crafts Museum, reminds us of the beauty of handcrafted objects that surround us in daily life.

Everyday life is filled with objects, common things used in common contexts. These objects are our constant companions. As such, Soetsu Yanagi (father of Japanese design pioneer Sori Yanagi) argues that they should be made with care and built to last; they should be treated with respect and affection.

According to Yanagi, the objects we use every day should be made from natural, simple materials, and be sturdy and safe. Their aesthetic result should fully meet their functional needs. In short, they should be beautiful things.

In an era of fragile, ugly, mass-produced items, Yanagi’s essays urge us to deepen and transform our relationship with the objects around us. Inspired by the work of artisans Yanagi encountered during his travels across Japan and Korea, his arguments are a heartfelt defense of modest, honest, and handcrafted items. The beauty of teacups, jars, fabric, and paper, objects like these exemplify the enduring charm of simplicity and functionality: the beauty of everyday things.

Yanagi’s argument is both radical and highly influential, offering insights into Japanese art and craftsmanship and its folk art traditions. At the same time, it allows us to discover the origins of the principles that define Japanese design as we know it today: anonymity, quality, simplicity, honesty, and, of course, wabi-sabi, the beauty of imperfection.