Japan Travel Guide

In the mid-nineteenth century an exotic array of pictures, crafts and curios came flooding out of Japan as this virtually unknown country re-established trade with the outside world. Western collectors eagerly snapped up exquisite ink-painted landscapes, boldly colourful ukiyo-e (pictures of the floating world), samurai swords, porcelain, inlaid lacquerware, bamboo utensils and ivory carvings - even artists such as van Gogh and Whistler were influenced by the contemporary vogue for things Japanese. From these collections came our first detailed knowledge of the diversity of Japanese arts, ranging from expressions of the most refined spiritual sensibilities to the bric-a-brac of ordinary life.

This enormous wealth of artistic expression reflects the wide variety of sources of inspiration and patronage over the centuries. Periods of aristocratic rule, military supremacy and merchant wealth all left their mark on Japanese arts, building on a rich legacy of religious art, folk traditions and the assimilated cultural influences of China and Korea. More recently, the West became a model for artists seeking to join the ranks of the avant-garde. Today it's difficult to speak of prevailing tendencies, as Japanese artists both draw on traditional sources and take their place amongst international trends.

What does span the centuries, however, is a love of nature, respect for the highest standards of craftsmanship and the potential for finding beauty in the simplest of things. These qualities pervade the visual arts of Japan but are also reflected in aspects of the performing arts where the actor's craft, costume and make-up combine with the stage setting to unique dramatic effect. The official designation of valued objects and individuals as "National Treasures" and "Living National Treasures" acknowledges the extent to which the arts and artists of Japan are revered.

One of the joys of visiting Japan, however, is in experiencing the ordinary ways in which the Japanese aesthetic enters into everyday life. The presentation of food, a window display or the simplest flower arrangement can convey, beyond the walls of any museum, the essential nature of Japanese art.

Marie Conte-Helm