Gestalten | Handmade in Japan

“I am confident that the skills of Japan are a gift for humankind: a gift for the future rather than just a way to create beautiful products, as in the good old days.” – Kengo Kuma in the preface to Handmade in Japan 

Handmade in Japan takes the reader on a journey through the island nation, offering insight into its varied and fascinating culture and traditions, while also revealing the histories of its diverse regions, from the fiery southern island of Kyushu, to the imperial capital of Kyoto, to the snowy wilderness of Hokkaido. 

The book provides a rare glimpse into some of Japan’s most remarkable workshops, unveiling the techniques and stories behind thousand-year-old pottery kilns, katana swordsmiths, and the art of crafting delicate tea whisks out of bamboo. With exquisite photography of the craftspeople and their impressive wares by Irwin Wong, and a series of short essays looking at the significance of their materials written by East Asian crafts expert Antje Papist-Matsuo, and a foreword by star architect Kengo Kuma, Handmade in Japan celebrates the craftspeople continuing their endless pursuit of perfection in the twenty-first century.

Editors: gestalten & Irwin Wong  
Photography: Irwin Wong 
With an introduction by Kengo Kuma
Region texts by Antje Papist-Matsuo
Features: full color, hardcover, stitch bound, 320 pages, over 360 photographs
Format: 22,5 x 29 cm