Shokunin and Cafe Culture in Japan
Shokunin and Cafe Culture in Japan
“The ‘unique’ features possessed by the Japanese are said to include such characteristics as an unusual understanding of nature and an innate sense of beauty … to absorb foreign cultural elements, to perfect these elements beyond the state in which they were received, and then to add them to the indigenous culture without losing the essence of Japan’s individuality.”
Japanese Culture, The Religious and Philosophical Foundations, Roger J. Davies, 29
This project explores the ever-progressing world of Japan, which values simplicity and ancient richness. The thriving cafe culture, among many other entities, represents these facets of Japan. As I traversed this concept, my original idea expanded and became a more holistic study of the ancient versus the modern in Japan, with “shokunin” as the foundation for how I explored Tokyo, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and various other Japanese landmarks.
