Sōbi as Organization and Movement

This chapter explores Sōbi as both a grassroots organization and a nationwide educational movement that promotes child-centered art education in postwar Japan. It begins with Kitagawa Tamiji, who applies his experience from Mexico's open-air schools to inspire creative pedagogy. Kubo Sadajirō leads Sōbi's expansion, organizing exhibitions, translating theory, and fostering a nationwide network of voluntary teacher-led study groups. These groups operate independently, share practices through seminars and publications, and use critique and collaboration to refine their pedagogy. Sōbi resists rigid hierarchies, supports open dialogue, and treats the classroom as part of real life rather than preparation for it. Finally, the chapter shows how Sōbi challenges postwar educational centralization, influences curriculum reforms, and affirms the power of art as a tool for liberation, while struggling to protect creative education from bureaucratic standardization.