36 Questions
What was the main goal of the concept book titled Wonder Nippon! released by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry in 2017?
To convey Japan's unique sensibilities and values to the rest of the world
What is often featured in tourist pamphlets, media productions, and popular discourse in Japan and abroad?
The attractiveness of Japanese crafts
When did the Japanese government start promoting craft specialists to produce works for international exhibitions?
During the Meiji period
Why did European artists turn their attention to Japan in the late 19th century?
To discover Japan's authentic craft tradition
What contributed to Japan's cultural diplomacy in the post-war era?
The travels of Japanese craftspeople
What was the outcome of the Japanese government's promotion of crafts in the late 19th century?
Increased exports and soft power
What did European artists see in Japan's crafts?
A repository of authentic craft tradition
What attracted Westerners to Japan from the 1960s?
The opportunity to learn crafts, particularly ceramics
What is a characteristic that Japanese ceramics share with other East Asian ceramics?
Firing at high temperatures (above ~1250 degrees Celsius) in wood-fueled kilns
What was introduced to Japan from China and Korea in the 5th and 16th centuries?
Wood-fueled kilns
What was the result of the ashes from the firewood melting on the surface of ceramic pieces?
Unpredictable color patterns and textures
What coincided with the interest in tea ceramics and the tradition of the six old kilns in the West?
The so-called 'Zen boom'
What stimulated a mindset of freedom and experimentation in the West?
Countercultural movements such as the hippie movement
Why did some foreign apprentices find their experience in Japan disappointing?
Because they had to do tasks like weeding the garden or babysitting
Why do some potters prefer to work with ceramics in Japan?
To gain recognition and fair compensation for their work
What did many foreigners who came to practice ceramics in Japan eventually do?
Settled in rural communities and built their own studios and kilns
What is a common challenge faced by potters in the United States?
Limited opportunities for economic survival
What is a type of knowledge that exists in the body but is often hard to put into words?
Tacit knowledge
How many hours of practice and repetition are required to master a craft skill, according to the popular rule?
10,000 hours
How do potters in Japan connect with their natural surroundings?
By using local and natural materials in their work
What is valued highly in Western art education?
Abstract, theoretical, and conceptual types of knowledge
What was a challenge faced by female foreign apprentices in Japan?
Finding a master potter to teach them
Why do many potters in Germany call themselves designers or artists?
To gain more public recognition and respect
What is a characteristic of the communities that many potters have established in Japan?
They are historically known for pottery production
What is a benefit of working with ceramics in Japan, especially before the spread of the internet?
Drawing from a 'library' of historical and locally-rooted techniques
How do potters in Japan approach their work in relation to the materials they use?
They acknowledge and respect the fundamental character of the materials
What is a similarity between potters in Japan and people who grow and prepare their own food?
They both value the satisfaction of working with natural materials
Why do many ceramicists in Europe and the USA resort to ready-made materials from industry?
To save time and effort
What is the traditional Western concept of art focused on?
Visual contemplation of non-functional objects
In Japan, what is the relationship between purpose, beauty, and everyday acts?
There is a long historical connection between purpose, beauty, and everyday acts
What did interviewees stress as important in their experiences of well-being?
The importance of beauty in its everyday, sensory dimensions
What did interviewees find in Japan that contributed to their practices?
A community of practice, a culture of natural materials, and historically-bound processes
What concept do interviewees' identities and worldviews invoke?
Planetarity, emphasizing ecological awareness and cultural diversity
What do interviewees' narrative accounts show?
A search for universal aspirations in local sensibilities
What can engagements with historical techniques, natural materials, and local communities help envision?
Alternative futures in an age of environmental degradation and cultural divisions
What is the relationship between the concept of planetarity and cosmopolitanism?
They are complementary concepts, both emphasizing interconnectedness
Study Notes
Japan's Craft Industry
- In 2017, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry released a concept book titled Wonder Nippon! to promote Japan's unique cultural values and sensibilities to the world.
- The booklet highlights simplicity, anonymity, and harmony with nature as core values that have shaped Japan's domestic craft production.
Craft and Japanese Identity
- Japan has promoted its crafts as a symbol of Japanese culture and identity, particularly through government promotional materials, tourist pamphlets, and media productions.
- The idea of Japan as a paradise of craft has been officially promoted since the Meiji period, when the Japanese government sponsored craft specialists to produce works for international exhibitions.
Cultural Diplomacy and Crafts
- Crafts have played a significant role in Japan's cultural diplomacy, with craftspeople traveling the world to give talks and demonstrations, contributing to shifting Japan's military image after World War II.
- This led to Westerners coming to Japan to learn crafts, particularly ceramics, from the 1960s.
Japanese Ceramics
- Japanese ceramics have been strongly influenced by East Asian ceramic traditions, including the use of high-temperature wood-fueled kilns introduced via China and Korea.
- This technique allows for the production of more resistant objects and creates unique aesthetics characterized by unpredictable color patterns and textures.
Zen Boom and Countercultural Movements
- The "Zen boom" in the West, starting in the 1950s, reflected a growing interest in Eastern religions and practices, leading to increased interest in Japanese crafts.
- Countercultural movements, such as the hippie movement, encouraged young Westerners to travel to Japan in search of alternative experiences and practices.
Westerners in Japan's Craft Industry
- In the post-war era, Japanese potters started accepting foreign apprentices, leading to a mix of positive and negative experiences for the foreigners involved.
- Many Westerners came to Japan to learn ceramics, and some eventually settled in rural communities, building their own studios, kilns, and practicing ceramics as a way of life.
Challenges and Opportunities
- Westerners faced challenges in Japan's craft industry, including language barriers, cultural differences, and lack of direct verbal instruction from masters.
- However, they also found opportunities to learn from Japan's rich craft traditions, connect with local communities, and engage in meaningful interactions with materials and nature.
Craft as a Way of Life
- Many interviewees emphasized the importance of craft as a way of life, allowing them to explore connections with people, objects, traditions, materials, and nature.
- They highlighted the value of beauty in everyday, sensory dimensions, and the importance of self-fulfilling and autonomous work.
Alternative Futures
- The attraction to Japanese ceramics extends beyond an interest in Japan's cultural values, invoking universal aspirations and a search for interdependent and interconnected human values.
- This approach can help envision alternative futures in an age marked by environmental degradation and cultural, national, and political divisions.
Explore the concept of Cool Japan, a policy initiative by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, and its emphasis on cultural values such as simplicity, anonymity, and harmony with nature in craft production.
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