Craftland Japan
An inspiring book capturing the spirit and roots of traditional Japanese handcrafts. Katharina Zettl and Uwe Roettgen became fascinated by Japanese crafts and art and visited exhibitions and fairs in Europe whenever possible. After further research and preparation, they embarked on a big adventure. They took a break from their own graphic and product design jobs, travelled to Japan, rented a minivan that served as transport and overnight accommodation, and started their journey visiting craftspeople all over the Japanese archipelago.
Staying several days with each of them gave the couple time to develop close personal relationships and gain deeper insights, not only into production processes but also into the lifestyles of often remote places where time still moves slowly. Bringing the reader closer to the 25 craftspeople introduced, we share the joys and hardships of being a craftsman, and feel their commitment to keeping tradition and culture alive for future generations.
Creating all the photos, videos, interviews, texts, and book design themselves, Katharina and Uwe self-financed their undertaking without any sponsorship. While Thames & Hudson published their book, CRAFTLAND JAPAN, in English worldwide, Dorling Kindersley (DK) released the book in German. A version for the very craft-interested Chinese market will likely also be published this year.
The visuals, the chosen crafts, and the honest interviews built on personal trust beyond commercial consideration offer us a unique glimpse into the work ethic and places of origin of these craftspeople. This book is a masterpiece that we highly recommend.
links;
– Video: https://thamesandhudson.com/news/video-craftland-japan/
– Making of: https://thamesandhudson.com/news/the-making-of-the-book-craftland-japan/
– Project: https://craftland-japan.com/
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