Japan and Japanisme

January 28 2023

When one thinks about the Japan and Japanisme architecture and interior design some words that come to mind are calm, detailed, and clean. In order to develop a deeper understanding of this specific design style we have to look at the history and how the style was developed. In the early years of design, Chinese design was one of the main influences. Even though japan design was influenced by Chinese design, Japanese design was distinct and set apart from Chinese design. 

As seen in the image above, the Japanese focused on horizontal and vertical lines to organize the rooms. 
Another characteristic of Japanese design is the panels they used throughout the houses and buildings. The panels were made out of wood, rice paper, or plaster. 

Religion is a huge part of Japanese culture, therefore, the interior design of many Japanese houses was made to accommodate the religious practices of the country. The main religions in Japan at the time of the rise of Japan and Japanisme design were Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shintoism. These religions are centered around achieving spiritual enlightenment and emphasize meditation. The image above is an interior of a Japanese-style home. As you can see one main feature is the low furniture and pillows made for kneeling, meditation, and achieving a feeling of zen. 

Nature became an important part of the Japan and Japanisme design movement. Many homes incorporated the outside into the inside to create a calm and relaxing environment. The Japanese made sure to take care of the outside as much as the inside of their houses. Some of the ways the Japanese designed nature around the house they used stepping stones and cut their bushes and trees to fit the environment they wanted to create. 

The image above is an example of Japanese design in modern-day homes. When you look at the panels on the left side of the image they are directly related to the wooden and rice paper panels that were used in homes in the beginning of the design movement. Another notable detail in the room is the light fixture. Japanese design is known for using lantern-like lights to softly brighten the room.

The use of wood was a huge part of Japanese design. As seen in the picture above the use of wood and panels are still a part of modern interior design today. 

In the image above we can see a more modern take on the Japanese style with the use of darker woods and turn away from the lighter bamboo wood. Even though the wood is darker we can still see some characteristics of the Japanese style such as the plants, pillows, and orthogonal lines.

One Step Further: Frank Lloyd Wright 

In many of Frank Lloyd Wrights buildings and projects, you can see the use of Japanese designs. In many of his houses, you can see the horizontal and vertical lines at play on the exterior of the house.

The image above is one of Wrights houses that focused on horizontal and vertical lines. Open floor plans were also used in many of his houses, similar to Japanese design. One last characteristic that is similar to Frank Lloyd Wrights's houses and Japanese design is how much Lloyd paid attention to the nature surrounding the house and incorporated nature into the inside of the house, much like the Japan and Japanisme design. 

Japan and Japanisme design is a one-of-a-kind style that was set apart and ahead of its time. The furniture and interior design focused on simplicity and serenity while the rest of the world was focused on functionality and formality. Japan and Japanisme design is a timeless design that is seen everywhere today whether it is light fixtures, art work, or woodwork, and will continue to live on and evolve.