Preparing for Japan Through Artists’ Eyes

A short list of books, films, and series that offer a thoughtful introduction to Japan’s culture, aesthetics, and daily life.

Essential Reading

The Book of Tea — Kakuzō Okakura

A short philosophical essay that connects tea culture to Japanese aesthetics, Zen Buddhism, and ideas of simplicity and harmony. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Tea

In Praise of Shadows — Jun'ichirō Tanizaki

A beautiful meditation on light, darkness, architecture, lacquerware, and traditional Japanese aesthetics. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Praise_of_Shadows

Just Enough: Lessons in Living Green from Traditional Japan — Azby Brown

Explores how pre-industrial Japan created a remarkably sustainable society through careful resource use. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azby_Brown

Snow Country — Yasunari Kawabata

A quiet, atmospheric novel set in a remote hot-spring town. Kawabata later received the Nobel Prize in Literature. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_Country

Art, Architecture & Design

Art Space Tokyo — Ashley Rawlings & Craig Mod

A guide to Tokyo’s contemporary art scene through galleries, studios, and architecture. https://www.craigmod.com/books/art-space-tokyo/

Designing Modern Japan — Sarah Teasley

A history of how design shaped Japan’s modernization from the Meiji era to today. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Teasley

A Guide to the Gardens of Kyoto — Marc Treib & Ron Herman

A thoughtful introduction to the design and meaning of Kyoto’s temple gardens. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_garden

Japanese Homes and Their Surroundings — Edward S. Morse

A remarkable 19th-century study of traditional Japanese houses and daily life. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Sylvester_Morse

Food & Craft Traditions

Rice, Noodle, Fish — Matt Goulding

A lively exploration of Japan’s food culture and the craftspeople behind it. https://www.roadsandkingdoms.com/books/rice-noodle-fish/

Washoku: Recipes from the Japanese Home Kitchen — Elizabeth Andoh

A deeply knowledgeable introduction to traditional Japanese cooking. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Andoh

Classic Films

Tokyo Story (1953) — Yasujirō Ozu

A profound portrait of family, aging, and generational change in postwar Japan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Story

Seven Samurai (1954) — Akira Kurosawa

One of the most influential films ever made. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Samurai

Ikiru (1952) — Akira Kurosawa

A bureaucrat facing death searches for meaning in life. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikiru

Tampopo (1985) — Jūzō Itami

A joyful and eccentric “ramen western” celebrating food culture. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tampopo

Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)

A documentary about mastery, discipline, and devotion to craft. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiro_Dreams_of_Sushi

Contemporary Films

Perfect Days (2023) — Wim Wenders

A quiet portrait of daily life in Tokyo that beautifully captures Japanese rhythms of routine and observation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_Days

Departures (2008) — Yōjirō Takita

An Academy Award–winning film exploring ritual, dignity, and death in Japanese culture. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Departures_(2008_film)

Rental Family (2025) — Hikari (If available)

Inspired by the real Japanese phenomenon of companies that provide actors to play friends, family members, or companions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rental_family

Kokuho (2025) — dir. Lee Sang-il (If available)

A drama set in the highly disciplined world of kabuki theater, exploring artistic inheritance, rivalry, and the pursuit of mastery. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokuho

Television & Series

Begin Japanology / Japanology Plus (NHK)

Short documentaries explaining Japanese traditions, crafts, and cultural concepts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begin_Japanology

Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories

An intimate series set in a late-night Tokyo diner where each episode centers on a dish and a story. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Diner

The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House

A gentle series set in Kyoto’s geisha district that focuses on food, apprenticeship, and daily life. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Makanai:_Cooking_for_the_Maiko_House

James May: Our Man in Japan

A humorous and surprisingly insightful travel journey across Japan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_May:_Our_Man_in...

Short Introduction to Shinto

A clear 12-minute overview of Shinto beliefs and practices. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuZHotjtrJs