This Japanese interior design and architecture book is filled with fresh ideas for restaurateurs and foodies alike. The Japanese approach of introducing classical aesthetics to innovative and exciting dinning spaces expresses the fundamentals of Japanese architecture and design. With evocative texts accompanying stunning photographs, Contemporary Japanese Restaurant Design features 28 of the most cutting-edge dining spaces by the country's leading restaurant designers.

Eat. Work. Shop. presents a striking collection of cutting-edge commercial sites in Japan. Vibrant color photography and compelling text make this the ultimate guide to modern Japanese life. Seven of the country's foremost architects showcase their ideas in 34 shops, restaurants, salons, bars and spas. The architecture and interior designs are uniquely Japanese and will add a distinctive flair to any retail, office or retail design project. In collaboration with a new generation of entrepreneurs, these designers are reshaping basic concepts of how contemporary Japanese eat, work and shop. Beautifully illustrated with over 250 photos, the locations in this book reflect everything from postmodern industrialism to suggestive eroticism. A whole new language of design, propelled by the Japanese penchants for innovation, has given this generation a carte blanche to redefine Japan as the world's next cultural superpower, unhindered by the barriers of tradition.

Provides a definitive statement of contemporary interior design in the Japanese dining space, which has international reach to a wide audience across a huge market. Covers a range of projects (the majority achieved within the past 24 months) offering a varied approach to modern perspectives of Japanese interior design.

Hip Dining Japan showcases the most contemporary and hip restaurant designs in Japan. Reinterpreting the traditional spatial requirements of the Japanese dining space, the designers have created new ways to address constraints as features. Often injected with a twist, some of the featured projects expound the private dining concept as fantasy structures integrated into the dining space, to create a sensational experience for the guests. Others mastered the art of applying uber modern lighting in contrast with their Zen design sensibility, to enhance the encounter and dramatize the ambience. Creating extraordinary interior expressions that are unique to the dining scene in Japan, the restaurants featured reflect a hip dining experience that is visually psychedelic and stylistically flamboyant. Breaking away from the stereotypical conventions of Japanese rural styles of Inns and Ryokans, contemporary Japanese restaurants continue to influence cross-cultural trends, by striking out to redefine what it is to be hip and funky with a cutting-edge perspective that is Japanese in its roots, without compromising its position as an international trendsetter. Curated for the trendy designer and the hip restaurant proprietor seeking inspiration for restaurant concepts that are unique, sophisticated and exceptional, Hip Dining Japan sets itself out as the advocator of visual dining experiences.

From acclaimed photographer Michael Freeman and design expert Michiko Rico Nosé come a unique vision of contemporary Japanese style. Following the themes of "Work," "Rest," and "Play," they examine a wide variety of aesthetically influential spaces, objects, and personalities, and delve into the heart of fashionable Japan. Covering the work of 27 designers, architects, artists, and creative entrepreneurs, this eye-opening look takes readers right into the very homes and offices of these trendsetters. From movable gardens to the perfect kitchen, from boutiques and beauty salons to the hippest clubs, bars, and restaurants, the specially commissioned photographs capture Japanese design at its playful, innovative best.

The Art of Japanese Architecture presents a complete overview of Japanese architecture in its historical and cultural context. The book begins with a discussion of early prehistoric dwellings and concludes with a description of works by important modern Japanese architects. Along the way it discusses the iconic buildings and architectural styles for which Japan is so justly famous--from elegant Shinden and Sukiya aristocratic villas like the Kinkakuji "Golden Pavilion" in Kyoto, to imposing Samurai castles like Himeji and Matsumoto, and tranquil Zen Buddhist gardens and tea houses to rural Minka thatched-roof farmhouses and Shinto shrines. Each period in the development of Japan's architecture is described in detail and the most important structures are shown and discussed--including dozens of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The aesthetic trends in each period are presented within the context of Japanese society at the time, providing a unique in-depth understanding of the way Japanese architectural styles and buildings have developed over time and the great variety that is visible today. The book is profusely illustrated with hundreds of hand-drawn 3D watercolor illustrations and color photos as well as prints, maps and diagrams. The new edition features dozens of new photographs and a handy hardcover format that is perfect for travelers.