Craftland Japan

by Uwe Röttgen, Katharina Zettl

A stunning photographic survey of Japan’s most ingenious contemporary artisans. Generations of artisans in Japan have forged and refined their crafts to become the envy of the world. Each of the country’s regions are renowned for specific traditions relating to local materials and the natural world in which they are produced. While tourists and design enthusiasts have long acknowledged the unique history and quality of Japanese craftsmanship, very few crafts have made their way outside the country, preventing many from witnessing the quality of Japanese workmanship for themselves. With the aim of sharing these unseen treasures with the wider world, designers Uwe Röttgen and Katharina Zettl set out to find the finest examples of Japanese craftsmanship, traveling around the country to document the makers, their workshops, and the landscapes that influence them. Craftland Japan is the result of this extraordinary journey into the heart of Japanese culture. Featuring twenty-five expert artisans, Craftland Japan reveals the techniques and materials that are used to produce a wide variety of beautiful objects, from porcelain bowls to indigo-dyed fabrics to paper. This book is a celebration of how Japan’s union of craft, design, materiality, and landscape continue to flourish in contemporary interpretation, however much the world around them has changed. 363 color illustrations

Genres: Japan, Nonfiction, Art, Design, Crafts

288 pages, Paperback

Published May 12, 2020

Reviews

[7jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very beautiful, visually rich book about 25 craftspeople studios around Japan, makig everyday life products, yet museum-display worthy. Even you don’t want to read about these crafts in depth, this is a fantastic book to read for the curious. It’s a book of traditions and wisdom flourishing, continued from one generation to another, or picked up by a new person or group to continue. Some of them have learned the basics in schools, some from masters, some from older family members.

There are many photos, in color and black and white, though sometimes certain pictures are a bit small so you have to concentrate to see what’s in them. Pictures of the makers, the workshops, rural landscapes, the making the process, product examples. At the start is a map of where the shops are, the names of the makers and their companies. At the end each workshop is listed with a picture, some information, and an online address for all but one.

What kind of things? Blades, cast iron and copper objects, lacquerware, paper, bamboo basketry, indigo dyeing, cabinets, wood objects, ceramics, embroidery, yarn clothing, freestyle calligraphy, etc. Sometimes there’s more than one place doing it, and then they are grouped one after another. Each place gets pictures, informative text, some quotes from the makers.

It’s interesting to learn how nature can be so close in places (like, 70% of Japan is still woods); it’s been good for craftpeople to flourish. This reminds me of the Yanagi book I read and reviewed recently, ”The Beauty Of Everyday Things”, and I wonder what he would think of the present situation. Would he be surprised?

There is a mood of dedication (patience, care, aim for quality), modesty, skill, openness for development. People sometimes take new names for themselves when continuing a work of someone, or when starting their business. The qualities of these people reminds me of the world of Japanese cuisine, which can take same attitudes on what they make (as told in Goulding’s ”Rice Noodle Fish”). Something to maybe imitate in what we do.

I got this book soon after I saw it at the bookstore, it was so appealing even with just lightly looking in. It is such a visual delight, interesting and inspiring. It makes you think of what you could do, even if not on this level. The mood alone in these pictures and stories makes this such a good read.

[Izzie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haikus, Japan pics, Japanese ways, crafts, what more could [i] want

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this fascinating as all these people used their hands to create and craft something. Some of them are following centuries of tradition while other are forging their own paths. The things they do are amazing and for some in trades that are dying out. Definitely worth a read.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful craftsmanship in Japan. My favorite profiles were of the calligraphers and bamboo workers.