Living in Japan. 40th Ed.

Japanese homes are oases of tranquility, designed with a unique aesthetic of oriental minimalism. This anthology, enriched with numerous previously unpublished photographs, brings together traditional structures and cutting-edge contemporary homes. Look to the Land of the Rising Sun and discover the fluid simplicity of these spaces, where Zen philosophy breathes.

The most spectacular modern Japanese houses

Traditional Japanese architecture is so rich and unique that it's nearly impossible to improve upon. Yet contemporary Japanese designers and architects continue to find new ways to renew it, drawing inspiration from the past. Whether it's a perfectly preserved traditional house or a cutting-edge apartment, the best Japanese homes share a predilection for carefully designed spaces and warm materials like wood, brick, and bamboo.

From a thatched farmhouse home to a Zen monk to Tadao Ando’s experimental 4x4 House, from Shigeru Ban’s conceptual Shutter House to a beautiful homage to bamboo in the form of a house, this refined compendium traverses the multifaceted landscape of contemporary Japanese housing.

Enriched with 170 new, previously unpublished photographs, this edition will take you on a breathtaking journey through the Land of the Rising Sun and includes a list of addresses for discovering Japan's most charming inns and homes firsthand. An in-depth glossary of key terms such as tatami, shoji, and noren also allows you to familiarize yourself with all the elements of Japan's extraordinary aesthetic, characterized by Oriental minimalism.

The photographer
Zurich-based Swiss photographer Reto Guntli regularly travels the world, shooting for international magazines. He has published numerous books and contributed to TASCHEN volumes such as Inside Asia, Living in Japan, Living in Bali, and Great Escapes Asia.

The authors
Author, art collector, calligrapher, and director of programs on traditional Asian arts, Alex Kerr has lived in Japan and Thailand since 1964. As a writer, he is known for Lost Japan (1996), Dogs and Demons (2001), and Another Kyoto (2016).

Kathy Arlyn Sokol is an award-winning writer, interviewer, and storyteller. Her works include Rasta Time, based on her exclusive interview with Bob Marley, and Another Kyoto, co-written with Alex Kerr, about the secrets of the ancient city. She currently resides in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.

The publisher
Angelika Taschen studied art history and German literature in Heidelberg, earning her doctorate in 1986. She worked for TASCHEN from 1987 to 2010 and has published numerous books on a variety of subjects including art, architecture, photography, design, travel, and lifestyle.

Living in Japan. 40th Ed.
Hardcover, 15.6 x 21.7 cm,
512 pages
Italian language