There is a lot I love about Japan and Japanese culture, but I do want to note that I am a proud (half) Korean American even if Korea isn’t as proud of me.
My art (and design) has always been heavily inspired by Japanese culture. Ever since I was a little kid, I was watching anime and reading manga. Doraemon, Ultraman, Power Rangers, Space Battleship Yamato, Astroboy, and so on. I had many Japanese children’s books that I couldn’t read, but looked at all the time and they created lifelong imprints.
I also love Japanese car culture. While I did have a short affair with German (and American) cars, my passion is for Japanese cars and the amazing aftermarket brands that build products around them. I’m a huge fan of Rays Engineering, ASM, Spoon, Mugen, J’s Racing, and more. If you want to get a glimpse into what I am talking about when it comes to Japanese car culture and the concept of Shokunin (which I will talk more about below), watch this wonderful video by Larry Chen about Watanabe Wheels. That company is just so inspiring to me.
職人 (Shokunin).
I believe in hard work. I believe in finding your passion and putting in all the time to someday “master” a skill. I have great respect and admiration for those who practice Shokunin (職人). Shokunin kind of means “craftsman” or “artisan”, but there’s really no English word for it. Its meaning goes deeper than a skilled tradesperson. It is a way of life. They dedicate their life to the mastery of the craft. They don’t boast and aren’t prideful of their work. Even if their work is amazing, they are humble because there is always room for improvement. They see their work as a service to their community…to society. Their work is much bigger than them. The most common examples of Shokunin are probably the great Japanese sword makers and sushi chefs.
This is so inspiring to me. Ever since I was very young, my path has been towards being an artist of some sort. I was born to create, but I feel like it has taken half my life to find myself as an artist/designer and know where I’m heading. I’m embracing my inspiration from and exposure to Japanese culture and running with it. I don’t want to create what I don’t believe in just because it sells. I’m following my passion and creating what aligns with me. I’m doing it for the love of the craft and in a small way, a pursuit of 職人気質 (shokunin katagi or strong artisan spirit).
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