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James Fox looks at the clean minimalism of the Japanese home, which has been exported around the world, from modernist architecture to lifestyle stores like Muji.

In the final episode, Dr James Fox explores the art of the Japanese home. The clean minimalism of the Japanese home has been exported around the world, from modernist architecture to lifestyle stores like Muji. But the origins of this ubiquitous aesthetic evolved from a system of spiritual and philosophical values, dating back centuries. James visits one of Japan's last surviving traditional wooden villages, and the 17th-century villa of Rinshunkaku, and reveals how the unique spirit of Japanese craftsmen (shokunin) turned joinery into an artform - creating houses without the need for nails, screws or even glue.

Exploring some of the traditional arts of the Japanese home (where even food and flower arranging have been elevated to the level of art), James also investigates attitudes to domestic culture in modern Japan, meeting photographer Kyoichi Tsuzuki, chronicler of Japan's crowded cities and tiny apartments.

Other highlights include a performance by calligrapher and artist Tomoko Kawao and a visit to the hometown of Terunobu Fujimori, one of the most singular and playful contemporary architects working in Japan today.

1 hour

Last on

Fri 25 Oct 2024 06:30

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Music Played

  • Penguin Cafe Orchestra

    Vega

  • Jon Hopkins

    The Low Places

  • Max Richter

    Dream 13 (minus even)

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter James Fox
Series Producer Matthew Springford
Executive Producer Richard Bright
Producer Jude Ho

Broadcasts

  • Mon 26 Jun 2017 21:00
  • Tue 27 Jun 2017 03:00
  • Mon 5 Mar 2018 21:00
  • Tue 6 Mar 2018 03:00
  • Tue 26 Mar 2019 20:00
  • Wed 27 Mar 2019 03:00
  • Tue 10 Dec 2019 00:00
  • Thu 21 May 2020 01:00
  • Wed 26 Aug 2020 23:00
  • Wed 8 Sep 2021 23:30
  • Fri 24 Sep 2021 02:40
  • Thu 20 Oct 2022 01:05
  • Fri 21 Oct 2022 02:50
  • Tue 31 Oct 2023 22:30
  • Wed 1 Nov 2023 07:30
  • Mon 6 Nov 2023 11:00
  • Wed 8 Nov 2023 07:30
  • Thu 9 Nov 2023 20:30
  • Fri 10 Nov 2023 05:30
  • Fri 18 Oct 2024 16:30
  • Sun 20 Oct 2024 16:05
  • Mon 21 Oct 2024 12:00
  • Tue 22 Oct 2024 23:30
  • Wed 23 Oct 2024 08:30
  • Thu 24 Oct 2024 21:30
  • Fri 25 Oct 2024 06:30

Featured in...

麻豆社 Four's Japan season

麻豆社 Four's Japan season

Three weeks of programmes on the art and culture of Japan.