DESIGNER, WOODWORKER AND ARCHITECT (JAPAN / USA)
V.Ryan © 2022-2023
George was from a Japanese family and studied Architecture at the University of Washington. As a Japanese-American, he is acknowledged as one of the founders of the American Studio Craft movement. His work has been praised by fellow designers and is studied by students around the world.
His early career was in architecture, including working for a company, helping Frank Lloyd Wright in the design of the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. His interest in traditional Japanese furniture began to develop, whilst working in Japan. He was interested in the Japanese philosophy ‘Mingei’( ‘hand-crafted art of ordinary people’ ), who believed in a return to craftsmanship, similar to the principles of the Arts and Crafts movement in Europe.
He developed his high level crafts skills whilst imprisoned in an Internment Camp, in the USA, during the Second World War. He was taught by Gentaro Hikogawa, a Japanese carpenter, mastering traditional skills and the use of Japanese tools.
After the war he continued designing and making furniture in his signature Japanese style. Walnut was his favoured timber, often using one large piece as the top / main surface. His work reflects Japanese values of balance, harmony, and simplicity.
