Japan seduces the ‘materialist’ with a gorgeous palette of textures and patterns and tones. The Japanese celebration and reverence for nature through seasonal festivals, food and the decorative and fine arts means that one still feels the presence of the work of artisans in everyday life. As with the work we do, many things start with the selection – choosing the woodgrain or the bamboo piece – and then the application of patient skills. I took these photographs over various trips to Japan, mainly in Kyoto or on the Ishikawa Peninsual.