Bamboo in Japan

A stunning collection of photos and essays takes readers on a complete tour of bamboo in Japan, illustrating its uses in art and architecture, textile designs, furniture, crafts, foods, gardening and the home. Nowhere is bamboo used more elegantly and distinctively than in Japan, where its presence touches every part of daily life, even reaching into language, literature and ritual. Over 250 photographs and illustrations. Hardcover, 9" x 11," 220 pages.

In 1996, ten years after my first trip to Japan, I presented a book proposal to Kodansha International in Tokyo. Exciting hours of library research in Japan, Honolulu and New York followed. Multiple trips back to Japan included extensive photo and interview sessions from the southern islands of Kyushu and Shikoku north to Tokyo. With the help of my Tokyo editor, Barry Lancet, and my New York City editor, Bibi Wein, Bamboo in Japan was published in 2001 and it is going into its second printing as I write this. The publication was distributed in time to accompany a touring exhibition, Bamboo in Japanese Culture, which I guest-curated with Benji Bennington at the East-West Center in Honolulu.

Go to www.amazon.com and you can read some sample pages and reviews.

Bamboo in Japan may be purchased from browngrotta arts

When I reread pages, I can still remember where and when I wrote every word. It was a satisfying five-year period, and the bamboo research, curating and writing continues.

In 2007 I completed several articles about the topics I love best – books, baskets and bamboo. Selvedge magazine invited five contributors to send an annotated list of their all-time favorite books. Read “Summer blockbusters” in Issue 18 for the results. I reviewed Elizabeth Whyte Schulze’s coiled forms for Fiberarts. Look in the Jan/Feb 2007 to read the review and see some of her fabulous work. More recently (Sept/Oct 2007), Fiberarts published my article, “Jiro Yonezawa: Tradition and Innovation.” I think Jiro’s bamboo work is among the best. I have been asked to review another bamboo book – a task I am very much looking forward to, as always. Back to the computer soon.