Culture as National Security

In 1961, John F. Kennedy in his inaugural speech said: “ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” I believe this is an appropriate question to pose today to the Japanese people in regard to both the protection and revitalization of Japanese cultural properties and practices.

Protection and revitalization of Japanese cultural assets and rituals are matters of national security. While that might sound a bit alarmist, I truly believe that we need a reevaluation of the importance of Japan’s unique history, art, food culture, and etiquette. Not only is this important for the economic benefits tourism brings, but also for the sense of national identity, pride, and joy that a strong and robust culture brings to the Japanese populace.

Japan’s history, art, and culture are inseparable from the national identity and the identity of the Japanese people. Not only physical cultural assets, shrines, temples, and castles, arts, and crafts but also mannerisms, ways of speaking, gestures, and the humility that permeates Japanese communication are all essential elements of the Japanese cultural identity.

My Life-Long Love and Respect for Japanese Culture

From the moment I was first exposed to Japanese culture in my teenage years growing up in America, I was drawn to understand more about it. That passion has only grown in my 30 years living in Japan.

I have made it my life’s work to collaborate with Japanese and international artists and brands to shine a spotlight on some of Japan’s incredible artists and craftspeople.

As an artist and novice historian, over the past 30 years I have traveled all over Japan to hold exhibitions and feel very lucky to be able to visit shrines, temples, and artists’ studios from Kyushu to Hokkaido. I am in awe of the vast array of crafts in Japan and the dedication and discipline these craftspeople bring to their work. I am inspired by my fellow artists in Japan and hope to be a better artist myself for having been able to spend time with so many amazing creators over the past 30 years.

Last year, I was commissioned by Dekanta, the world’s largest online seller of Japanese whisky, to create an art piece to celebrate the sale of 20-year-old Karuizawa Whisky. I collaborated with the Taya Studio in Wajima to make the Acclaim Whisky stage, bringing together lacquer craftsmen and the team at Sakai Glass in Osaka to showcase an offering of three bottles of the famed Karuizawa Whisky. We made 50 sets of the stage which were auctioned in New York in March of 2023.

Since 2017, I have been designing glasses and decanters for the Austrian wine glass maker Riedel. The glasses are sold in stores across Japan, and each year I design a new series for Riedel using Kanazawa gold leaf made by Hakuichi.

In 2022, I was asked by Puma to design shoes for the Tokyo Fashion Show. The show was attended by people from around the world. I used Kanazawa gold leaf to make the shoes. Every part of the shoe, the box, the laces, and of course the gold leaf were all made in Japan.

Collaborations like these are truly a great way to highlight Japanese craftsmanship while still evolving and remaining relevant to a younger audience.