Journey Through Japan (9780804860543)

A stunning pictorial celebration of Japan's culture, art, architecture and people.

Japan is a nation of extraordinary contrasts from soaring metropolises and serene temple complexes, to cutting-edge technology and centuries-old folk festivals, kimonos and business suits. Far from contradictions, these layered worlds coexist and enrich one another, making Japan one of the most captivating destinations on earth.

Deeply rooted in its own identity, Japan holds material and spiritual life in delicate balance—gaudy and spare, noisy and silent, ancient and modern. Symbols and rituals remain vital to everyday life. The past lives on in tea ceremonies and ikebana, in sumptuous temple celebrations and joyful festivals.

More than 180 photographs illuminate the many facets of this remarkable nation. Four special sections explore the aesthetics of Japanese cuisine, the pleasures of the hot spring bath, the little-known snow country of the north, and the distinctly Japanese fusion of art and craft.


About the Author:
Hans H. Kruger was born in 1949 in the little German town of Lemgo, the birthplace of the famous physician, botanist and writer on Japan, Engelbert Kaempfer (1651-1716). Since the age of 19, he worked as an editor for newspapers and magazines in Germany. In 1977, he started traveling to Asia. He wrote books on Hong Kong, Vietnam, pirates in the Philippines. Since his first journey to Japan, he fell in love with the country and its people. He lives with his Japanese wife Yoko in Munich.