Like this post? Help us by sharing it! The meticulousness that drives the craftsman’s spirit, or shokunin kishitsu, has made the arts and crafts of Japan famous worldwide. In this blog, I would like to focus on a few examples of Japanese craftsmanship techniques that epitomise this spirit, along with a few of my favourite Japanese […]
June 2020
Edo kiriko and the Kobayashi family
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! The term for an artisan in Japan is ‘shokunin’; it is heard regularly but never used lightly. At its best, shokuninsan is a title bestowed on those who evidence a complete devotion to their craft. Artisans who make their work the focus of their waking hours. It can indeed […]
Exploring Japanese wine in the Kōfu Basin
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Kashioyama Daizenji Temple (Grape Temple)
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! The origin of Japanese wine is still open for debate… Recently, evidence of ancient grape fermentation has been used by those who support an early origin story. The Jōmon people who inhabited the Japanese archipelago from 14,000 BCE to 1000 BCE are said to have used fermentation […]
Kengo Kuma: Finding Architectural Harmony
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Words by Tyler Palma and quotes from Kengo Kuma reprinted with permission Kengo Kuma has been in the news most recently as the designer of the new Japan National Stadium, the planned site for the Tokyo Olympics. But his prominence as one of the most significant and […]
The exemplary craftsmanship of a kaiseki meal
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! If you’ve been to Japan, you may have eaten a kaiseki meal. You definitely wouldn’t forget it, that’s for sure. Simply put, a kaiseki meal is a traditional Japanese multi-course feast for both the eyes and the stomach. With sometimes up to a dozen or more courses, […]
An Interview with a Kintsugi & Urushi Master
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Lisa Nilsson’s interview with Kyoto-based kintsugi and urushi master Mio Heki was originally published in Kyoto Journal in August 2018. This is an edited version of the full interview which can be found in Kyoto Journal. With our modern and wasteful way of living it may be […]
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Lisa Nilsson’s interview with Kyoto-based kintsugi and urushi master Mio Heki was originally published in Kyoto Journal in August 2018. This is an edited version of the full interview which can be found in Kyoto Journal. With our modern and wasteful way of living it may be […]