Printmaker and poet William Morris is best remembered for writing “The Earthly Paradise”. He had no idea that his artistry and writings would eventually inspire Yanagi Soetsu to begin the Japanese folk art movement.
Read MoreThough fall and spring are popular subjects in Japanese art and literature, there is a tendency to avoid lingering for too long on the bitterly cold nights of winter. This means that, for over 700 years, winter was painted in idealized tones almost as gentle as our own holiday memories.
Read MoreWhen it comes to creating a legacy, perhaps no artist has a bigger impact in the art they leave behind than the architect. After all, what other job requires your projects to outlive you?
Read MoreOn endings and beginnings.
Read MoreEvery month we share one story with you that has been shared many times before. In this season of gratitude, we honor the legacy of Japanese stone cutters and other craftsmen who persevere in humble circumstances.
Read MoreWe took a field trip to Longwood Gardens, where over 16,000 chrysanthemum blooms fill up the conservatory in celebration of the Japanese Chrysanthemum Festival.
Read MoreDiscover the fascinating ritual of the Japanese tea ceremony.
Read MoreImagine a world without paper. For many of us, it would be a minor inconvenience, far less worrisome than a power outage. In medieval Japan, however, life without washi was almost inconceivable.
Read MoreJust in time for Halloween, we present a spooky Japanese folktale to keep you up through the night.
Read MoreTea has deeply affected Japanese culture and history, inspiring innovations in artistry while also cementing relationships and good manners. Yet the Japanese tea tradition is still alive and vivid, as easy to appreciate as a warm, freshly brewed cup of sencha.
Read MoreMetallurgy as a craft demands much -equipment, skill, patience- in exchange for the opportunity to create lasting art.
Read MoreThe Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, in its purest, most idealized form, is all about delicate traces of imperfection, showcasing faint evidence of human life at the borders of nothingness.
Read MoreWe take you inside the breathtaking world of ikebana at the Philadelphia Flower Show.
Read MoreLearn about the origins of bonsai, the symbolism behind different styles and species, and how to care for your very own bonsai tree.
Read MoreOn a crisp Friday morning we took a break from preparations for the Flower Show and went on a field trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s “Ink and Gold: Art of the Kano” exhibit for some much needed inspiration.
Read MoreWe visit the Japan Society’s newest exhibit, Garden of Unearthly Delights. From Ukiyo-e prints to anime sequencing, the exhibit invites viewers to draw comparisons between traditional and contemporary Japanese aesthetics
Read MoreFrom her downtown Brooklyn studio, Hiroko Takeda handcrafts inventive, sculptural textile works. In this interview and studio tour, she shares her background and inspirations.
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