Japan's calligraphy-inspired home interior and garden design
Blending in: The best Japanese homes fit seamlessly into their surroundings.“In the 1970s we believed bigger cars were better and larger homes were more desirable than smaller ones." So says Michiko Rico Nose, author of "Japan Modern: New Ideas for Contemporary Living" and "The Modern Japanese Garden."
Historically the Japanese have envied the American "bigger is better" philosophy. But the cultural spell has burst and Nose says, “Now we’re proud we can find comfort in small spaces.”
Carpenter customization
Nose's books aren’t filled with images of extraordinary temple gardens or majestic architecture for those of a certain rank. Rather they showcase ordinary gardens, individual rooms and tiny houses where the Japanese talent for compact arrangement is reframed as "the beautiful way."
Asked to explain the difference between Japanese and Western interior design in a Shibuya cafe, Nose describes the latter as mere house decoration. “It’s outside in -- buying furniture and bringing it inside," she says.
"Originally in Japan the carpenter customized everything to fit the space," says Nose. "While bespoke home design isn’t as prevalent today, we still respect this idea of seamlessness. For example, we don’t just put a computer on a desk, but instead try to understand how the desk, computer and chair can work as one.”
Michiko is authoritative in her knowledge, but not in an intimidating way. She knows for younger people to appreciate these topics she must match her message with how they live today.
Fresh-faced without a hint of makeup, Michiko's casual, friendly demeanor belies the formal aspects of Japanese culture which we discuss. Sipping her coffee black and deliberately considering each question, her answers deliver encyclopedic cultural insight in a fresh, colloquial way.
Nose says much of the Japanese aesthetic is derived from calligraphy. Each brush stroke is crucial, but so is the interaction between black lines and white space.
Sensing the seasons
“The Japanese know when to stop, they don’t decorate too much," Nose says. "If you keep adding strokes the calligraphy becomes messy. This requires concentration and paying attention to each small thing.”
Nose says Japanese gardens follow the same principles of calligraphy, balancing sunlight and shade.
“The Japanese love shadows and observing how the trees create these dark and light patterns,” she says.
The Modern Japanese Garden has been translated into six languages. Nose believes much of the global fascination lies in the way Japanese gardens make people feel.
“The purpose of a Japanese garden is to feel the seasons, to experience time passing," she says. "It’s why we display scroll paintings in our homes, it’s another way to sense the seasons.”
Western paintings are often framed and trapped behind glass, while scrolls are easy to change according to the mood one wants to bring into a space.
Presentation is key
“Hospitality is so important in our culture and we want to express the seasons and make our guests comfortable," Nose says. "We choose carefully, like the right plate for the layout of the food or selecting a particular flower to show a new season is coming. Each item has its own meaning.”
So how can stressed-out salarymen and office ladies living in shoebox apartments bring these principles into their frenetic, over-worked lives?
“Easy,” Nose says. “Care about how you prepare and present things. Even junk can be displayed in a vase if done with mindful attention.
"For example, pick a dandelion, place it in a beautiful, unadorned vase and you’ve changed the plant, you’ve given it life. Another thing, enjoy the seasons. A very simple way to start is by eating seasonal food.”
