Sori Yanagi (1915-2011) was a towering figure in Japanese industrial design, renowned for seamlessly blending traditional Japanese aesthetics with Western modernism and industrial production.

Born in Tokyo, his father, Soetsu Yanagi, was a philosopher and founder of the Mingei (folk craft) movement, which championed the beauty of everyday, handcrafted objects. This upbringing instilled in Sori a deep appreciation for artisanal traditions and the inherent beauty of utilitarian items.

Yanagi studied art and architecture at the Tokyo Art School. A crucial influence came from his time working with French designer Charlotte Perriand in Tokyo during the early 1940s, where he served as a translator and was introduced to European industrial design.

In 1952, he founded the Yanagi Industrial Design Institute. His design philosophy revolved around the idea that "true beauty is not made, it is born naturally." He famously developed his designs by hand-modeling prototypes repeatedly, rather than starting with drawings, believing that "it is something that the hand should use, so of course it should be designed by hand!" This meticulous, user-centered approach resulted in objects with organic forms and intuitive functionality.

Yanagi's diverse body of work includes furniture, lighting, kitchenware, cutlery, toys, and even public infrastructure like metro stations and Olympic cauldrons (he designed the torch holder for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics). His most iconic creation is the Butterfly Stool (1954), a masterpiece that combines traditional Japanese forms (like the torii gate of Shinto shrines) with innovative bent plywood technology, earning him international acclaim and a gold medal at the 1957 Milan Triennale.

Throughout his career, Sori Yanagi maintained a focus on timeless, practical designs that enriched daily life. His work is held in major museum collections worldwide, and his philosophy continues to influence designers globally.