Space, the Final Frontier

For my 50th post on this blog I’d like to talk about space, or particularly the lack of it in Japan and its effect on the culture.  The WSJournal had an article on an innovative business two women have begun in Tokyo capitalizing on the exodus of foreigners after last year’s financial meltdown. In fashionable neighborhoods like Harajuku and Roppongi, they’ve taken vacated apartments and split them into 8-10 smaller living spaces with common facilities for single women.

This is a somewhat new concept for Japanese who are used to self-contained spaces that though connected with the whole are not so openly integrated between public and private spaces. An American resident makes this point in that each person has their own neatly marked kitchen soap container rather than share one communal soap dispenser paid for jointly by all. The personalization of space limited as it maybe though, is an aspect of the Japanese ethos reflected here in the theme oriented decoration that each apartment is subject to.

I experienced this use of space in a beautifully packed bento this past week which showcased each dish in its own little space next to its neighbor and three dimensionally above the rice which acts as a common foundation, eaten with each item.



Japanese gardens are commonly said to represent this idea of space integration and for me this one in Kennin-ji is a great example, as it represents the whole universe through the three fundamental shapes.


The interpenetration of space meanwhile is another well known aspect of  Japanese design seen in the movable shoji screen that creates a personal space in the midst of larger areas. In Shoren’in this design is integrated with the outside by having the seating area brought into the garden, while ikebana in the alcoves bring  the garden into the viewer’s room. A stream with koi meanwhile meanders through the garden creating a flow in the space.



As my friend is about to move  to China for an assignment, I’m looking forward to hearing about the perspectives on space of a large though crowded country.