In this video, Shozo Sato provides a brief overview of Japanese aesthetics and explains the major differences between Western and Japanese aesthetics. He talks about the Japanese emphasis on stylization and the function of art and the artist in Japanese society. He also describes “maximum art” (such as Kabuki) and “minimal art” (such as haiku or rock garden) and the need for balance in both.
This resource is part of the Japanese Culture collection.
Classroom activities and discussion questions available on PBS LearningMedia.