The Art of Japanese Life

This fascinating three part series looks at three major influences on Japanese art and culture; the natural environment; the cities, notably Kyoto, Edo and modern Tokyo; and the home. In each episode we see how these have influenced Japanese art and life over the centuries. Presenter Dr James Fox clearly knows a lot about the subject and his enthusiasm for it clearly shows. We don't just see the expected 'art' of paintings; there is also the design of buildings, cultivating bonsai, flower arranging and calligraphy to mention just a few things. As well as talking about each subject and showing examples he talks to modern practitioners who talk about their art; frequently pointing out things that are far from obvious just by looking at the item… subtleties such as how Japanese carpenter use their tools in different ways to Westerners, cutting on the opposite stroke to give just one example.

I found this series really engrossing and heartily recommend it to anybody who is interested in cultures other than our own in general or Japanese culture in particular. Even those who know a lot about the subject are likely to find something new to see and those, like me, who only know a little should learn quite a bit.

It's hard to watch a documentary when you don't like the narrator or don't share their world view. I didn't hate Dr. James Fox but something about his whispered hushed tones, and taking photographs of crappy stone buildings in Tokyo with literally no windows and calling it "post-modern futuristic" architecture rubbed me the wrong way entirely. I also think anyone who believes scribbles and strokes on a sheet of paper are art worth paying someone thousands or millions of dollars for is a pretentious kook who is only trying to look smart to other rich people. Calligraphy is an art, you'll get no argument from me there, calligraphy looks highly difficult to me. But. Making splish splashes of black paint on canvas "inspired" by calligraphy is what every angsty teenager does in 10th grade high school art class, James.

I also felt my intelligence was being insulted when he mansplained that apartments are tiny in Tokyo and his interviewee said people living in Zen balanced wooden homes is "fake news" about Japan. What in the world. I love RURAL Japan, I have never once confused Tokyo with rural Japan, I think Tokyo is one of the circles of hell. Yes, people live in terrible cramped coffin-like apartments there. But as you pointed out yourself, narrator, most of Japan is uninhabited. Is there a particular reason why people who work from home or are retired or well-off can't live in one of those undeveloped areas instead of a one-room hovel?

There are some good parts. I'll give it an average 6.

As somebody who has long felt a deep affection for Japan and the Japanese people and their attitude to life, I think this episode provides the best explanation of the Shinto religion I have seen. Sure, it's a bit slow for those who have been accustomed to modern movies and TV dramas, but it allows time to ponder the beauty of the scenes shown and reflect on how Shinto is based upon respect for nature. Too bad there isn't more of that respect in modern Western life today. I really loved watching this episode and wish the BBC would release the entire series on DVD. The other two episodes were interesting and enjoyable but didn't hit the same mark as the first one. Please make more programs like this trio.