{"title":"Photography","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"kyoto-gardens-masterworks-of-the-japanese-gardene","title":"Kyoto Gardens: Masterworks of the Japanese Gardener's Art","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"Bring the art and beauty of Japan to your garden with inspiration from Kyoto Gardens.\" --HGTV Gardens By design, Kyoto's gardens possess a unique ability to provoke deep contemplation and joy in equal measure. This book is a labor of love from master photographer Ben Simmons and longtime Kyoto-based writer Judith Clancy. It contains lyrical images and poetic essays describing Kyoto's most famous gardens--most of them now UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including: Kyoto's Old Imperial Palace Garden: A massive walled complex filled with flowering plants, trees and buildings which served as the official residence of the Japanese emperor for over 500 years before 1868 and is now a public park. Heian Jingu Shrine Garden: Constructed on the site of the ancient capital and filled with lush greenery, ponds, rocks, bridges and pavilions which float above the water, providing a sense of tranquility and natural beauty. Ginkaku-ji Pure Land Garden: An earthly paradise featuring a massive truncated mound of packed sand that is resculpted by hand daily, this site was originally designed as a private villa by one of Kyoto's rulers then turned into a Zen Buddhist temple upon his death. Kinkaku-ji Estate Garden: Perhaps Kyoto's most recognizable sight, a Golden Pavilion perched on the edge of a tranquil pond on whose smooth surface are reflected beautiful rocks and cypress trees placed all around it. Ryoan-jin Zen Rock Garden: The purest expression of a world in miniature, expressed as a sea of raked gravel with islands of natural stone and moss set in its midst, walled off from the outside world to provide a place for meditation and contemplation. Saiho-ji Moss Garden: Famed for its moist and soft, shimmering green covering of moss, this unique estate was designed in the 14th century and radically altered the art of the Japanese garden. Tofuku-ji Zen Garden: An ancient temple site which contains some of the best examples of a new \"contemporary\" gardening style pioneered by Mirei Shigemnori in the early 20th century, featuring enormous rocks set in a sea of raked gravel and irregular checkboard squares set in a soft bed of moss ringed by azalea bushes. Plus two dozen other masterful gardens! Simmons' sensitive photos present a fresh, contemporary look at these timeless gardens while Clancy's graceful descriptions provides historic, aesthetic and cultural context. This new edition has been updated and revised, with many new photographs added.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tuttle Publishing","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":52204914671898,"sku":"N9784805315965","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0911\/9462\/2234\/files\/9784805315965.jpg?v=1768347797"},{"product_id":"hidden-japan-an-astonishing-world-of-thatched-vil","title":"Hidden Japan: An Astonishing World of Thatched Villages, Ancient Shrines and Primeval Forests","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"A sharp-tongued spokesman for Japan's environment and traditions\" --The New York Times In Alex Kerr's critically acclaimed Lost Japan and Dogs and Demons, he documented the decline of the traditional landscapes of Japan, his adopted home of many years. Here, in Hidden Japan he makes a journey of rediscovery to find the wonders that still remain. Originally published in Japanese as a call to preserve disappearing facets of Japan's rich and ancient culture, Hidden Japan records Kerr's travels to various remote and lesser-known places where pockets of traditional culture can still be found. Some are faraway--like Aogashima Island, 200 miles south of Tokyo--while others are easy to reach, such as Mii-dera temple just east of Kyoto. The ten engaging essays in this book describe surprising remnants of Japan's fragile physical and cultural environment, including: Avant-garde Butoh dancing in the remote village of Tashiro in Akita Prefecture How shochu liquor is distilled from tropical ferns on the Pacific island of Aogashima An austere but delicious kaiseki meal in rural Tottori Prefecture composed of local herbs and meats Anecdotes relating to Kerr's childhood growing up in Japan and his passion for restoring old houses The damage caused by governmental infrastructure and reforestation policies, as well as by tourism Plus many other topics! Kerr's sharp eye for detail and exquisite descriptions of Japanese, arts, architecture and foods will inspire readers who already appreciate his unique look at the \"reality\" of Japan beyond the romance. His personal involvement and obvious love for his subjects encourage us all to think more carefully about our own traditions and environment, and to challenge ourselves to search for better solutions to preserve what is of value all around us.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tuttle Publishing","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":52204905234714,"sku":"N9784805317518","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0911\/9462\/2234\/files\/9784805317518.jpg?v=1768347920"},{"product_id":"hokusais-thirty-six-views-of-mount-fuji-from-the","title":"Hokusai's Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji: From the Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe full set of 46 glorious prints of Mt Fuji by Japan's most famous artist! This beautiful Japanese-bound volume presents the complete set of prints Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, one of the most famous series created by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), including ten prints he added to the series at a later date. Mt Fuji is magnificently represented by the master thanks to his highly personal conception that combines the sacred dimensions of the mountain with earthly views representing many different human activities. Each print is accompanied by a technical explanation that helps the reader to understand the image, with descriptions where possible of the actual places depicted.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tuttle Publishing","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":52204898976026,"sku":"N9784805319383","price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0911\/9462\/2234\/files\/9784805319383.jpg?v=1768348036"},{"product_id":"asias-greatest-wildlife-sanctuaries-in-support-of","title":"Asias Greatest Wildlife Sanctuaries: In Support of","description":"\u003cp\u003eOpen this book to visit Asia's amazing wildlife sanctuaries to view first-hand the wonders of the natural world! The Asian continent has the world's highest mountains, hottest deserts and oldest rainforests. And it is the perfect starting point for an exploration of the incredible diversity of wildlife that the world is now in danger of losing due to climate change, population pressures, deforestation and other factors. Take an unforgettable journey to 27 wildlife sanctuaries spread across 14 Asian countries. Here is just a brief taste of what awaits you in these pages: Kanha Tiger Reserve in central India, one of the country's best managed parks and a favourite site to observe the Bengal Tiger Borneo's Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, home to some of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Asia, including rich assemblages of large mammals and lowland forest birds A visit to the jungle-covered islands of the Raja Ampat Archipelago in eastern Indonesia, one of the world's top birdwatching spots, also some of the world's best diving spots Shiretoko National Park in Hokkaido, Japan, the best sanctuary in Asia to see Brown Bears, with brief and mild summers offering opportunities for whale watching and excellent bird-watching throughout the year Asia's Greatest Wildlife Sanctuaries is the work of two devoted conservationists who have spent 20 years exploring, documenting and photographing Asia's incredible wildlife. This book is published to raise awareness and funds in support of BirdLife International for their conservation projects in Asia.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tuttle Publishing","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":52119204659482,"sku":"N9780804859776","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0911\/9462\/2234\/files\/9780804859776.jpg?v=1776913246"},{"product_id":"japanese-garden-design","title":"Japanese Garden Design","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"Marc Peter Keane is the undisputed American master of Japanese garden scholars; he is also an educator and garden designer in his own right. Two of his previous books Japanese Garden Design and The Art of Setting Stones are indispensable.\" --The New York Times In Japanese Garden Design landscape architect Marc Peter Keane presents a complete overview of the history and development of the principles that underlie all Japanese gardens--a respect for nature combined with profound concepts of aesthetics and structure. Keane is one of the world's leading designers of Japanese-style gardens and he describes in detail the historical influences of Confucian, Shinto and Buddhist ideas that have linked poetry and philosophy to the tangible forms of gardens in Japan. Creative inspiration is found in prehistoric Japanese conceptions of nature, gardens of the Heian-era aristocrats, world-renowned Zen Buddhist temple rock gardens and tea gardens; compact courtyard gardens and large-scale Edo-era stroll gardens. Detailed explanations of these basic forms identify and interpret the symbolism and principles behind them and explain how they are still in active use today. Topics covered include: Early Gardens: Poetry in Paradise Gardens of the Heian Aristocrats Zen Gardens: The Art of Emptiness The Tea Garden: A Spiritual Passage Tsubo Gardens: Private Niches Edo Stroll Gardens: A Collector's Park Filled with gorgeous photographs and expert text by a leading garden designer, this book explains the theory and practice of Japanese gardening from an insider's point of view. It will be treasured by all Japanese garden lovers and visitors to Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tuttle Publishing","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":52142251704602,"sku":"N9784805319321","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0911\/9462\/2234\/files\/9784805319321.jpg?v=1777437972"},{"product_id":"beauty-of-everyday-things","title":"The Beauty of Everyday Things","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Japanese philosopher and aesthete's definitive, hugely influential exposition of his philosophy of folkcrafts, setting out the hallmarks of Japanese design as we know it today: anonymity, quality, simplicity and honesty—and, of course, wabi-sabi, the beauty of imperfection A Penguin Classic Our lives are filled with objects. Everyday things used in everyday settings, they are our constant companions. As such, writes Soetsu Yanagi, they should be made with care and built to last, treated with respect and even affection. They should be natural and simple, sturdy and safe—an aesthetic fulfillment of our practical needs. They should, in short, be things of beauty. Long revered as the authority on craftsmanship and Japanese aesthetics, Yanagi devoted his life and writing to defend the value of craft. In an age of feeble and ugly machine-made things, The Beauty of Everyday Things is a call for each of us to deepen our relationship with the objects that surround us. Inspired by the work of the simple artisans Yanagi encountered on his lifelong travels through Japan and Korea, this now-classic book is a heartfelt defence of modest, honest, handcrafted objects, from traditional teacups to jars to paper—objects that exemplify the beauty of everyday things.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin Classics","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":52225396834586,"sku":"N9780241366356","price":17.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0911\/9462\/2234\/files\/9780241366356.jpg?v=1778891066"},{"product_id":"things-become-other-things-a-walking-memoir","title":"Things Become Other Things: A Walking Memoir","description":"\u003cp\u003eA transformative 300-mile walk along Japan’s ancient pilgrimage routes and through depopulating villages inspires a heartrending remembrance of a long-lost friend, documented in poignant, imaginative prose and remarkable photography. “An epic, exquisitely detailed journey, on foot, through a rural Japan few of us are likely to experience. Uniquely unforgettable.”—William Gibson, New York Times bestselling author of Neuromancer Photographer and essayist Craig Mod is a veteran of long solo walks. But in 2021, during the pandemic shutdown of Japan’s borders, one particular walk around the Kumano Kodō routes—the ancient pilgrimage paths of Japan’s southern Kii Peninsula—took on an unexpectedly personal new significance. Mod found himself reflecting on his own childhood in a post-industrial American town, his experiences as an adoptee, his unlikely relocation to Japan at nineteen, and his relationship with one lost friend, whose life was tragically cut short after their paths diverged. For Mod, the walk became a tool to bear witness to a quiet grace visible only when “you’re bored out of your skull and the miles left are long.” Tracing a 300-mile-long journey, Things Become Other Things folds together history, literature, poetry, Shinto and Buddhist spirituality, and contemporary rural life in Japan via dozens of conversations with aging fishermen, multi-generational inn owners, farmers, and kissaten cafe “mamas.” Along the way, Mod communes with mountain fauna, marvels over evidence of bears and boars, and hopscotches around leeches. He encounters whispering priests and foul-mouthed little kids who ask him, “Just what the heck are you, anyway?” Through sharp prose and his curious archive of photographs, he records evidence of floods and tsunamis, the disappearance of village life on the peninsula, and the capricious fecundity of nature. Things Become Other Things blends memoir and travel writing at their best, transporting readers to an otherwise inaccessible Japan, one made visible only through Mod’s unique bicultural lens.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Random House","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":52225597145370,"sku":"N9780593732540","price":31.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0911\/9462\/2234\/files\/9780593732540.jpg?v=1778892793"},{"product_id":"otaku-japan-the-fascinating-world-of-japanese-man","title":"Otaku Japan: The Fascinating World of Japanese Manga, Anime, Gaming, Cosplay, Toys, Idols and More! (Covers Over 450 Locations with More Than 400 Photographs and 21 maps)","description":"\u003cp\u003eTransport yourself to the global capital of cool with this ultimate guide to Japanese pop culture! Are you crazy about Japanese manga, anime, video games, cosplay, toys and idols? If so, this book is for you! Whether you're planning a trip to Japan, have a severe case of wanderlust, or are just fascinated by its culture, let Otaku Japan transport you to the capital of cool. In this practical travel guide, over 450 iconic shops, restaurants, cafes, clubs and events are presented in loving detail with precise directions on how to find them. More than 20 maps, websites and over 400 color photos take you the length and breadth of Japan to all the centers of Otaku culture--from snowy Hokkaido to sunny Kyushu. Highlights include: Interviews with Game Developers Cosplay and Halloween Events in Japan Dojinshi: Self-published Comics A Visit to the Ghibli Museum Interview with famous Japanese idols Anime-themed Trains A Glossary of Otaku Terms And much, much more! The book covers all major regions in Japan--Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nagoya, Sapporo and Fukuoka--as well as lesser-known areas like Tohoku, Chugoku and Shikoku.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tuttle Publishing","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":52225668022554,"sku":"N9780804858731","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0911\/9462\/2234\/files\/9780804858731.jpg?v=1778893590"},{"product_id":"self-portraits-stories","title":"Self-Portraits: Stories","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"Art dies the moment it acquires authority.\" So said Japan's quintessential rebel writer Osamu Dazai, who, disgusted with the hypocrisy of every kind of establishment, from the nation's obsolete aristocracy to its posturing, warmongering generals, went his own way, even when that meant his death--and the death of others. Faced with pressure to conform, he declared his individuality to the world--in all its self-involved, self-conscious, and self-hating glory. \"Art,\" he wrote, \"is 'I.'\"\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn these short stories, collected and translated by Ralph McCarthy, we can see just how closely Dazai's life mirrored his art, and vice versa, as the writer\/narrator falls from grace, rises to fame, and falls again. Addiction, debt, shame, and despair dogged Dazai until his self-inflicted death, and yet despite all the lies and deception he resorted to in life, there is an almost fanatical honesty to his writing. And that has made him a hero to generations of readers who see laid bare, in his works, the painful, impossible contradictions inherent in the universal commandment of social life--fit in and do as you are told--as well as the possibility, however desperate, of defiance.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eLong out of print, these stories will be a revelation to the legions of new fans of No Longer Human, The Setting Sun, and The Flowers of Buffoonery. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"New Directions Publishing Corporation","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":52225675526426,"sku":"N9780811232265","price":15.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0911\/9462\/2234\/files\/9780811232265.jpg?v=1778893670"},{"product_id":"otaku-japan-the-fascinating-world-of-japanese-man-1","title":"Otaku Japan: The Fascinating World of Japanese Manga, Anime, Gaming, Cosplay, Toys, Idols and More! 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More than 20 maps, websites and over 400 color photos take you the length and breadth of Japan to all the centers of Otaku culture--from snowy Hokkaido to sunny Kyushu.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tuttle Publishing","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":52227825795354,"sku":"N9784805315149","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0911\/9462\/2234\/files\/9784805315149.jpg?v=1778915460"},{"product_id":"japan-style-architecture-interiors-design","title":"Japan Style: Architecture + Interiors + Design","description":"\u003cb\u003eJapanese homes speak to the soul and provide a contemplative environment from which to experience the world.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eJapan Style\u003c\/i\u003e offers rare glimpses into twenty exquisite traditional homes in Japan. The lavish photographs in this volume demonstrate how Japanese design achieves a timeless tranquility using a few very simple, natural elements.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Wood is the preferred building material since it is considered a \"living\" material; the country's Shinto and Zen Buddhist roots have inculcated a deep respect for nature. The houses in this book are a wonderful reminder that there are alternatives to \"big is beautiful\"--and that neither timelessness nor modernity has to be about using cold steel, glass and concrete.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e The wabi-sabi ideal, translated loosely by Frank Lloyd Wright as a \"rusticity and simplicity that borders on loneliness,\" is considered the epitome of sophistication in Japanese interior design. The houses in this book invite us to rethink the wisdom of our hurried modern lifestyle and return to a simpler, slower life.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e The quintessential Japanese aesthetic can be seen in a 100-year-old minka farmhouse, an old merchant's machiya townhouse in Kyoto, a sprawling country Samurai villa, and in a modern seaside cottage. This book offers insights for architects and homeowners alike by providing inspiring and surprising alternatives, relevant to the design of homes anywhere in the world today.","brand":"Tuttle Publishing","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":52227826057498,"sku":"N9784805315231","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0911\/9462\/2234\/files\/9784805315231.jpg?v=1778915474"},{"product_id":"tokyo-megacity","title":"Tokyo Megacity","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis photographic Tokyo travel guide explores the dynamic Japanese culture, art and architecture that make Tokyo a unique, world-class city. It has been said that \"every city has its high points, but Tokyo is all exclamation points!\" The largest and most populous city in the world, Tokyo is best experienced in-person. The next best way? ThroughTokyo Megacity--a visual and descriptive exploration of a city that combines old with new and traditional with trendy, like no other city in the world. This extraordinary book explores Tokyo through more than 250 revealing photographs by well-known photographer Ben Simmons and over 30 essays by famed author Donald Richie. Their love of the city, sense of its history, and the deep respect and pure joy felt in being here, shine through on every page. Simmons and Richie show us how modern Tokyo evolved from a patchwork of villages that still exist today as distinct neighborhoods and districts to the modern, trendsetting metropolis renowned theworld over--that combine to make Tokyo a unique and special place. Tokyo Megacity presents the districts of the city in the order that they originally developed, starting with the Imperial Palace, sliding down to the \"Low City\" along the Sumida River, soaring back up to the \"Mid-City,\" and finally, climbing the hills to the newer districts of the \"High City.\" The combination of Ben Simmons' photographs and Donald Richie's text capture the tremendous diversity, vitality and sheer livability of Tokyo. This new edition is updated with recent photos, up-to-date revisions and new sections on the Tsukiji Fish Market and Tokyo Skytree.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tuttle Publishing","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":52227827040538,"sku":"N9784805315569","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0911\/9462\/2234\/files\/9784805315569.jpg?v=1778915521"},{"product_id":"japanese-tattoo-the-history-and-evolution-of-an-a","title":"The Japanese Tattoo: The History and Evolution of an Art Form","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis book presents tattoos in Japan with all their astounding richness and sophistication. The history of this unique folk art, its meaning, social background, and evolution as well as a collection of rare interviews with master tattooists made over the past thirty years. In the world of tattoo art, few traditions can rival the elaborate and refined artistry of Japanese tattoos. In this richly illustrated book, The Tattooed Body by the French historian and journalist who specialises in Japan and Korea Phillipe Pons, readers will find a wealth of detailed information about the history of this unique folk art, its relation to literature and art plus great colour photographs of their work. Remarkable for the richness of their iconography, the balance of their compositions, and their refinement in details, Japanese tattoos have seduced since the fifteenth century Western travellers, merchants and later, in the 18th and 19th century sailors, soldiers, eccentrics and artists such as Degas, Monet, and Toulouse-Lautrec. Yet, despite its cultural significance and aesthetic beauty, while recognised worldwide, tattoos don't share in Japan itself the status and official recognition and support of other traditional art forms such as 'the way of tea', the flower arrangement (Ikebana), or Kabuki theatre. The book explains why and shows the historical influence of Japanese tattooing on the worldwide tattoo community and its integration into the modern global cultural landscape. Readers will learn about the shift from 'brocade skins' covering the entire body to the current Japanese tattoo renaissance where 'one-point' tattoos are favoured by young people which combine ancient motifs and anime, to the point where traditionalists are wondering if the 'tattoo' is losing its authenticity. With over 270 illustrations, this book is a powerful tribute to the artistry, skill, and enduring charm of Japanese tattooing. Perfect for tattoo enthusiasts, this comprehensive and visually stunning book is a must-have also for East Asian art lovers and those with an appreciation for cultural traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hoaki","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":52227834249498,"sku":"N9788419220745","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0911\/9462\/2234\/files\/9788419220745.jpg?v=1778915851"}],"url":"https:\/\/honnomoribooks.com\/collections\/photography.oembed","provider":"Honnomori Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}