Hard to imagine now but it wasn’t so long ago that a label reading “Made in Japan” had about as much cachet as “Made in China.”
People of a certain age might remember when a common response to a broken item was “What can you expect, it’s ’Made in Japan’?”
Not so now. More than ever before, a label bearing the words “Made in Japan” is a sign of high quality, a marriage of the latest technology and haute design.
© Merrell Publishers
In her book, Made in Japan: 100 New Products, American architect Naomi Pollock examines 100 products that exemplify the virtues of contemporary Japanese design.
Each of Pollock’s choices demonstrates why Japan’s design aesthetic has produced such a fanatical global following while also showcasing how the limitations of urban space can foster beauty and innovation.
Standing Rice Scoop by Marna © Marna
A history of reverence for craftsmanship complemented by a desire for modernity has enabled Japan to rise to the top of design cultures – and Pollock’s choices reveal a society that values the concept of “monozukuri,” the art of making things.
With biographies of Japan’s leading designers and an inclusive introduction to the history of Japanese product design, Made in Japan: 100 New Products features the works of 80 designers whose innovative products include mass-produced utensils, gadgets, clothing, furnishings, as well as limited edition items that reveal a society that prizes industrial perfection alongside exceptional expertise.
Guh recycling bin by Gaku Otomo/Stagio for Iwatani Materials © Iwatani Materials
Created specifically for the Japanese consumer, the products reflect modern life in Japan, which is often marked by an insistence on sustainability.
For those who worship at the altar of high design, Made in Japan: 100 New Products is a compendium of products that reward a love of beauty and a faith in the future.
