Customer Reviews

Japan the Art of Living

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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 The list of sources of where to buy materials at the end of the book is unfortunately out of date.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.

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.

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.

I love to curl up with this book and "visit" Japan. Even though this is not one of the newer books, it has the ability to transport me to the beautiful rooms, some of which are traditional Japanese, and others Japanese with European and Western influences. It is photographed and written with care, and was clearly a labor of love.

If you are looking for examples of the zen and minimalist aspects of Japanese style, then this is the wrong book for you.

Pluses:
Some of the pictures are interesting, and I liked many of the cultural aspects of the book.

Minuses:
Some of the pictures reminded me of the elaborate and glitzy decor of some Westernized Asian restaurants.

Recommendation:
If you are interested in all aspects of Japanese style, this book might interest you. Everyone else should avoid buying this book.

i have thouroughy enjoyed it thank u very much it really made my day to see that other people have the same in terests as me n my colleagues