Japan 365: A Drawing-A-Day Project

JAPAN 365 is the Essential art book of Japan. An excellent hand-drawn retrospective and an amazing feat of sustained creativity. Entirely bilingual in English and Japanese!

Artist and English teacher J Muzacz set out on a journey with some sketchbooks and ordinary ball pens. A test of artistic endurance, J drew an A4 (8.5in. x 11in.) piece for everyday of 2011 while living, working and traveling in Japan—A Drawing-A-Day Project for 365 days.

Delving into history books for classic traditional imagery and embarking on broken bilingual conversations with locals about hidden shrines, temples and festivals, helping harvest rice, eating strange food, dissecting fashion and more, J has unearthed some real gems that many Japanese do not even know.

Working from life and with stills captured by some of Japan’s finest photographers, depicting Hokkaido in the arctic north to Okinawa in the tropical south and everywhere in between, J has captured history, culture and current events in stark and striking black and white, reminiscent of Japan’s archetypal art style—the Hanga woodblock print.

Images range from beautiful landscapes to scenes of unsettling tsunami aftermath, women wearing kimono to unfinished old faces– always evocative and educational, insightful explanations or anecdotes on every page, laid out clearly in both English and Japanese.

Muzacz re-establishes artwork as a viable means to record a unique folk history while still communicating universal human tendencies and timeless natural beauty. Visual art is a valuable story-telling medium which transcends language barriers.

In Japan 365, the rare coincidence of a genuine passion for the people coupled with talent, focus, perseverance and the spark of a simple yet succinct idea is evident on every page.

Japan 365 is a must-have for aspiring artists, Japan-o-philes, Asian art aficionados, anyone interested in Japanese language, history and culture, or simply someone in need of creative inspiration.

Japan 365 is a useful Art/Reference volume, travelogue, language study, cultural study, coffee table book and more. You definitely want to add this one-of-a-kind book to your collection.