| architecture |
| calligraphy |
| ceramics |
| clothing |
| comics |
| gardens |
| lacquerwork |
| literature |
| movies |
| music |
| painting |
| poetry |
| sculpture |
| tea ceremony |
| television |
| theatre |
| weaponry |
| thematic routes |
| timeline |
| the site |
context: This Site
Perspective
I was born in England and have always lived here. My perspective is that of a white Englishman. I'm not pretending to any special insight here. Most books on Japanese things are by people who have immersed themselves in the culture pretty thoroughly. I haven't done that, and I don't intend to. I've not been to Japan, even. This is clearly a disadvantage in many ways - however, I am guessing that visitors to this site are mostly going to be westerners too, so I am hoping that this drawback doesn't prevent it being interesting. I think a specific focus on things Japanese often prevents discussion of how it reflects on western culture, differences and similarities, and I find that very interesting as well. I think it can also be interesting to explore the difference a western perspective makes to understanding - it's not just less, it's different too. For me, Japan is not something to honour by exploring and understanding, it's a repository of things to stimulate and entertain me, and my understanding is pulled along by that. Things will be included here because I like them or they interest me a hundred times as much as because they are important for any historical or aesthetic grasp of the cultural history of Japan.
This site is not going to step far beyond Japan very often, but if there seems to be some link worth exploring, I'll do so, at least briefly.