Shosa: Meditations in Japanese Handwork

Twelve beautiful, mindfully created in-depth portraits of Japanese makers in words and photos, from a bamboo weaver to a tatami mat maker, from a ceramicist to a cook who specialises in puddings. Includes information about different regions to visit in Japan.

When visiting Japan, one of the first things that stand out is the calm and respectful way the Japanese behave. A weaver meditatively repeats the exact same movement a thousand times a day, while the tea master dedicates every serene gesture to the harmony of the room. Although in the West we might find it hard to explain this mindful way of moving, the Japanese have a word for it: shosa.

In this book, journalist Ringo Gomez and photographer Rob Walbers portray 12 Japanese makers from different regions. From a bamboo weaver to a tatami mat maker, from a ceramist to a Zen monk. Ringo and Rob visited these makers in their workshops and made in-depth portraits in words and pictures. In this book, they report on their journey through Japan, hoping to uncover the complex meaning of shosa through the hands of Japanese makers.

Ringo Gomez-Jorge is a Belgium-based freelance journalist who specializes in face-to-face, in-depth interviews with designers, makers and artists. He writes for Flemish quality newspapers like De Standaard and De Morgen and has a weak spot for Japan, where he tries to spend as much time as possible. Rob Walbers is a Tokyo-based freelance photographer. His work ranges from music photography (including portraits of Madonna, The Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga, Morrissey and Radiohead) to the fields of fashion and lifestyle. Next to his commercial work, he focuses on personal projects, which have resulted in numerous publications and exhibitions and an array of awards.