Book Review: Japanese Design: Art, Aesthetics & Culture

This book is for those who admire the sense and sensibilities of Japanese design.

Author Patricia J. Graham, a former professor and museum curator specialising in Japanese, has compiled this volume to help people understand more about Japanese design. It's quite an enlightening read.

There are actually different classification of Japanese design, such as Katsura that represents refined rusticity, Shibui for subtle elegance, Wabi and Sabi for the rustic and withered elegance, and many more. The classifications for different sense of aesthetics is subtle at times, but that's also what's intriguing about Japanese design in the first place.

The book covers Japanese design as used in architecture, interior design, clothing, furniture and other crafts and artworks. There are many pictures of beautiful gardens, houses and interior design. What I really like is how the Japanese can blend their architecture with nature so well. Of course, this refers to their traditional houses and not the modern cityscapes you see in Tokyo.

The last chapter features prominent figures who have played a role in promoting Japanese design, such as artists, art professors, industrial designers, architects, journalists and even scientists, physicians and philosophers.

There's historic context throughout and it's clear that a lot of research has been done.

It's a great book for those who appreciates Japanese design.

Japanese Design: Art, Aesthetics & Culture is available at Amazon (US | CA | UK | DE | FR | IT | ES | JP | CN)

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