Matsumoto Mingei furniture blends Japanese and Western styles. Made primarily from Mizume (Japanese cherry) and finished with lacquer paint, this furniture is characterized by its elegance. Furniture-making began in Matsumoto more than 300 years ago, and the region was the nation’s largest producer of Japanese furniture at the end of the Taisho era. After the Pacific War, however, the industry declined and was in danger of disappearing. Fortunately, the Mingei movement – which celebrated the beauty of everyday objects made by anonymous artisans – sparked a revival. Mingei proponent Muneyoshi Yanagi lamented the decline of furniture-making in Matsumoto and encouraged a renewed focus on production. Thus began a new furniture production effort, and Matsumoto Mingei furniture was born.