Articles of the Series
Crossing Perspectives
What draws them to Japanese craftsmanship? Through living, working, and learning in Japan, they encountered a world of refined skills and artistry. From their unique cultural backgrounds, they share how Japanese handcrafts resonate with them—and the possibilities they see beyond.
What Is a Bonsai Craftsman — A Journey Inspired by the Japanese Art of Bonsai（Bjorn L Bjorholm）
My Introduction to Bonsai, Which Began with a MovieI first began my journey into the art of bonsai at the age of 13 when I received my very first tree from my parents as a birthday gift.
Mitsutsuna, the First Non-Japanese Swordsmith: The Passion Poured Into a Single Blade (Johan Leutwiler)
The Impact of a Japanese Sword, Seen Through the Eyes of a CraftsmanWhen I was 17 and traveling in France, I came across a Japanese sword at an exhibition in a department store.
Resisting Erasure - When Form and Dye Meet in Textiles（Hannah Waldron）
Where Material and Imagination MeetHand-crafted textiles have a beguiling way of enchanting the artists who work with them.
Bridging East and West: The Story Behind the Design of ‘Oku'（Kathleen Reilly）
A Childhood Glimpse of In Praise of Shadows in Mackintosh's ArchitectureMy interest in Japanese aesthetics began at an early age.
Sensations in Stillness—Encountering Japanese Beauty（Trees De Mits）
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE IN THE SHIGARAKI CERAMIC CULTURAL PARK JAPANAs an artist I enjoy the challenge of putting intimacy and sensuality at the center of my practice in a time that art mainly became conceptual.
Beauty and Resilience in Washi — between strength and delicacy (Sarah Brayer)
Encountering Washi — a single sheet of paper changed my path I never expected a sheet of paper to change the way I see art, space, or even stillness.
From Loubignac to Tokyo（Andoche Praudel ）
My Mentor in Mexico: Shozo TanidaI discovered a passion for ceramics in 1989 under the guidance of Shôzô Tanida, a Japanese potter in San Miguel de Allende, in Mexico.
.jpg?w=430&fm=webp&dpr=2)
The Appeal of Japanese Traditional Crafts and Techniques from a non-Japanese resident of Japan（Robert Yellin）
Living with Japanese PotteryThere is no other country in the world with the tremendous variety of arts and crafts then Japan; that a big statement to make, yet it’s true.
My adventure at the SHIGARAKI CERAMIC CULTURAL PARK（Catherine GIANOLA）
I admire Japanese arts and crafts for several reasonsI don't remember when I first became interested in Japan.
.jpeg?w=430&fm=webp&dpr=2)
Japanese Shibori: Tradition Breathing Life into Craft, Stories Spun Towards the Future (Riddhi Jain)
Encounter with Japanese ShiboriThe moment you step off the train at Arimatsu Station, it begins.
A three-sided approach to prevent traditional crafts from vanishing (Nicolas Soergel)
Encounter with Japanese Culture and Joining the Family BusinessI started getting exposed to Japanese culture when I met my future wife at university in Europe.
Discovering the Soul of "Made in Japan" (Jonathan Barnabe)
In 2015, marriage brought me to Japan, a new chapter in my life.
The Key to Illuminating the Future of Japanese Craftsmanship: The Inheritance of the "Takumi" (Steve Beimel)
It is March 19th, 1971, and I am 23 years old. It is my first day in Japan.
From France to Osaka: The Story of a Blacksmith Passing on the Traditions and Charm of Sakai (Eric Chevallier)
Encounters in FranceMy first contact with Japan was in high school, when a friend sat next to me while listening to Japanese music.
Bridging Cultures with Yuzen: Traditional Techniques & Vision for the Future (Tulika Ranjan)
IntroductionIt is a mystical world wrapped in the passion of artisans, passed down through generations.
Japanese crafts: Kurume Kasuri and textile networks (Vera Bracklo)
My first encounter with Japanese crafts was in 2019 when I studied as an exchange student at Hiroshima City University.
Between tradition and creation, a French designer in Japan (Mathilde Roseanne Bregeon)
FIRST STEPS IN JAPANWhen I’m asked what made me love Japan, I think back to a few episodes from my childhood.
Noh Past, Noh Present, Noh Future? (John Oglevee)
As an actor in New York in the 1990’s, I was involved in the downtown scene where narratives were being discarded for more atmospheric expressions of performance.
Handmade Washi Challenges : Crafting Through Modern Times (Emilie Even)
In 2008, I visited Kamiji Kakimoto, a renowned paper shop in Kyoto that sells hundreds of beautiful Japanese papers "washi".
Sacred Paper (Allan West)
There are certain materials that a traditional Japanese Nihonga painter absolutely cannot do without.
Rediscovering Japanese Textile Treasures: A French Designer's Journey (Clémentine Sandner)
Mesmerized at First GlanceI will never forget the first time I saw an authentic Japanese kimono at a flea market in Tokyo.
Japanese Arts and Culture at a Crossroads – by David Stanley Hewett: Preserving and Evolving Japanese Traditions as Sources of National Identity (David Stanley Hewett)
David Stanley Hewett discusses the preservation and continuation of Japanese culture and traditional crafts as an essential part of national identity. Over more than 30 years in Japan, he has traveled across the country, engaging with artisans and artists while developing his own creative practice. His collaborations with Wajima lacquerware artisans and Sakai Glass also incorporate traditional Japanese craftsmanship into contemporary artworks.
An unexpected journey (Rudge Jeff)
My name is Jeff. I have been a lantern maker in Ibaraki for the past seven years.
Indigo and Japanese crafts inspire me (Sally Hancox)
Japan holds a deep respect for crafts and the artisans who continue traditions and I think that’s great.