Japan the Art of Living [Hardcover]

Amy Sylvester Katoh (Author), Shin Kimura (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1991

In this best-seller, collector and connoiseur Amy Katoh introduces stunning interior designs that have successfully blended East and West, traditional and modern.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Longtime Japan resident Amy Sylvester Katoh and photographer Shin Kimura have created a fascinating and educational masterpiece in Japan: The Art of Living. More than 300 pictures of rooms, furniture, table arrangements, stylish windows, and more enliven its pages as they guide the reader on a "photographic tour of exquisite homes in the Tokyo area, focusing on ... antiques and folk crafts."

Katoh counsels readers to break free from some of the rules that govern Japanese style and design and experiment with their own brand of panache--or Japanache, as Katoh calls it. Instead of simply cataloging stylish homes, the author presents a design element, such as tansu chests, with a dozen options and alternatives, providing both ancient ideas and their modern updates. In addition to the superb photos and engaging text, there is also an index of places to buy the featured antiques, textiles, washi paper, screens, and other items, both in Japan and in 11 states in the U.S. If you were a fan of Japanese design before, this book will make you a fanatic. --Jhana Bach

From Library Journal

These books provide a window on a wonderful aspect of Japan--its domestic culture. While Ueda pinpoints the essence of traditional culture through architecture--in an ably translated version of a best seller (300,000 copies) in Japan--Katoh and Kimura take us inside homes in a feast for the eyes. The diffuse light of Kimura's photos of andon (a traditional lighting fixture) and other objects is true to life. With first-rate photography and honest sociology, these two engrossing views of Japanese life go well together. Librarians may want to purchase both books for cultural collection building; Katoh and Kimura's should be purchased where there is interior design interest. Highly recommended.
- Mike Heines, USAF Rome Air Development Ctr., N.Y.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing; First Edition edition (April 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804816115
• ISBN-13: 978-0804816113
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #662,525 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Sourcebook for Japanese Interior Design, December 14, 2000

By 

Walter O. Koenig "Amoxtli" (San Diego, California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Japan: The Art of Living (Paperback)

Regardless if you want to have a Japanese Tea Room, a Japanese touch, or just like looking at great photographs of Interior Design, you should buy this book.

I normally don't like books which take elements from one Style, in this case Japanese, and then adapt it for Western use, but here it works very well, thanks to superb and tasteful examples. The authors are also very up-front about it, as the sub-title which does not appear on the cover is "A Sourcebook of Japanese Style for the Western Home".

In hundreds of excellent photographs we are shown in sections with such titles as: "Light and Space", "Traditional Furniture" and "Japanese Textiles" just how easy it is to give rooms and areas of your home a Japanese touch or feel. I personally like the Style very much because it is subdued, almost austere, yet elegant, and makes much use of natural materials. The book is full of really clever examples of what one can do with space, and the best part is, that for the most part it can be done without great expense. The list of sources of where to buy materials at the end of the book is unfortunately out of date. The copy of the book I have was published in 1990, but many sources should be readily available on the Internet.

Along with the excellent book "Japanese Style" by Suzanne Slesin, et.al. (at the time of writing out of print), "Japan: The Art of Living" is all you'll need to go Japanese. And lastly before I forget, the price is right.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very helpfull, August 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Japan: The Art of Living (Paperback)

As a an architecture student and in an architecture firm working guy I found this book very helpfull. I like japanese architecture and this book has taught me a way to design interiors in japanese-western way.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great blend of East and West, November 1, 2010

By 

Home Designer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Japan the Art of Living (Hardcover)

While I found a few design errors in the homes that could have been improved upon (arrangement of furniture and accessories), I love this book. It shows many, many ideas of how to incorporate the Japanese look into the western style home. The pictures are gorgeous and I got some very good inspiration from them.