Editor's Column “The Path of Japanese Crafts” Part2: Modern Society and Kogei

What is “Japanese luxury”? This question has begun to surface more frequently as I share the appeal of Japan with audiences overseas. Today, richness is no longer defined solely by the possession of material goods; it has grown to encompass travel and a wide range of lived experi...

In Japan, there is a word called “kogei.” Kogei, which means “craft” or “crafts,” refers to beautiful, handmade tools used in daily life, such as ceramics, lacquerware, textiles, and metalworks. These crafts, made by human hands, are created using techniques and materials specifi...

The term “craftsmanship” has come to be widely used in recent years. It is not limited to handcrafted artisan goods but also applies to products such as watches, cars, and fashion items. The attitude of pursuing high quality in the creation of objects is often express...

Throughout this series, we have introduced the traditional Japanese aesthetics crucial to conveying the allure of kogei or Japanese crafts. Moving forward, to contemplate the future path of Japanese crafts, we will reconsider the value of crafts in light of global social issues a...