Yesterday after consulting with a client about work permits and start-ups in Japan, I headed to Kawai Kanjiro's exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto.
Kawai Kanjiro was a prominent potter and led the Japanese mingei (folk art) movement with Yanagi Soetsu and Hamada Shoji in the early 20th century. The exhibition this time presented about 250 pottery works by Kanjiro. I just can't stop admiring the colors he uses for his work, complemented with warm and unique shapes for each piece of pottery.
We have Kawai Kanjiro's House in the Higashiyama district in Kyoto. It was his residence and also functioned as his work studio, which is now open to the public as a museum. It's a great place to visit for those who are interested in Japanese folk art, Japanese old houses and lifestyle.
Interestingly enough, there is a status of residence (so called visa) category "Cultural Activities" for those who want to stay in Japan to learn and do research on Japanese culture. According to government data, 2160 people live in Japan with this status of residence (visa) as of June 2018. Their countries of origin vary including Asia, Europe and North America but the highest number of visas are issued to the United States at 735.
Working as an immigration procedures specialist and an English-speaking guide based in Kyoto, I meet people from around the world on a daily basis. Their passion about Japanese culture makes me want to learn more deeply about my own tradition and culture. I’m also here to assist you with any visa related - be it student, business, spouse of a Japanese national- issues you may have.
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