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wabi-sabi

New Danone yoghurts contain Japanese matcha, hojicha and persimmon, wrapped in special packaging

Exclusive “Wa Selection” range pays homage to some of Japan’s most beloved traditional flavours.

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Is the beauty of imperfection the secret behind the popularity of Pokémon character designs?

Ken Sugimori, art director and character designer for the Pokémon franchise, reveals the link between pocket monsters and wabi-sabi.

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Japanese woodwork: A tradition hundreds of years old, but still as cool as ever 【Video】

One of the beautiful aspects of Japanese culture is the dichotomy between, yet the harmony of, modern technology and steadfast tradition. On one hand they create things like smart toothbrushes and virtual girlfriends, yet their hundreds-of-years-old temples and homes are cherished and preserved, as are many of their age-old customs. Structures such as the Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto and Todai-ji in Nara have stood for hundreds of years thanks to more than just preservation, however; it’s at least partly down to the careful craftsmanship that went into them to begin with.

Traditional Japanese carpentry is not just a trade, it’s also an art and a science. Carpenters are able to build tables, houses, even great temples, without the use of a single nail, screw or other metal hardware− giving it strength and durability. China Uncensored, a web series devoted to bringing serious issues about the Chinese Communist Party to light in a parodical style, took a break from their communist offerings to show a video about Japanese carpentry from an unaired show called Journey to the East. In the 25-minute video we learn about the art and its place in the modern day, specifically modern-day New York, thanks to a traditional craftsman named Hisao Hanafusa.

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