Shinji Koike's Activities in the 1940's : From "Farewell to Industrial Arts" to "Industrial Design"

Abstract

This article reflects on Shinji Koike's activities in the 1940's using his writings as its fundamental resource. From the 1930's Shinji Koike had been analyzing and introducing many resources that he had collected at the "Central Overseas Culture Agency" which he had founded after devoting himself to the ideas and methods of modern design that were developing in Europe. Then after taking up the posts of the head of the planning office and appointed engineer at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in the 1940's, he stressed to the world the necessity of a rise and development of "new industrial arts" that would surpass traditional "industrial arts" by planning various displays and exhibitions as well as writing. The new ground level for the future of "industrial arts" that was depicted by Koike, who called for a "farewell to industrial arts," was truly the world of industrial design that planned for the humanization of industry during the arrival of the industrial age. Koike's activities at this time contributed greatly to the social spread of industrial design in Japan.