---
product_id: 176545388
title: "In Praise of Shadows Kindle Edition"
brand: "junichiro  tanizak"
price: "2535 som"
currency: KGS
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 11
url: https://www.desertcart.kg/products/176545388-in-praise-of-shadows-kindle-edition
store_origin: KG
region: Kyrgyzstan
---

# In Praise of Shadows Kindle Edition

**Brand:** junichiro  tanizak
**Price:** 2535 som
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** In Praise of Shadows Kindle Edition by junichiro  tanizak
- **How much does it cost?** 2535 som with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.kg](https://www.desertcart.kg/products/176545388-in-praise-of-shadows-kindle-edition)

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- junichiro  tanizak enthusiasts

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- Trusted junichiro  tanizak brand quality
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## Description

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## Images

![In Praise of Shadows Kindle Edition - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61Dyix0LaJL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Thoughtful, sometimes silly critical look at ideals of beauty
  

*by G***A on Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2015*

This was a great read. It was assigned reading for a class I had on the meaning of "beauty" in the arts. The book is largely about Japanese culture, but the experience of reading it as part of any Western-ized culture is much more about looking critically at what the Western world finds beautiful. In maybe the first ten pages, he approaches this argument in the most delightfully funny way -- by talking about toilets. By the end of this section, I was ready to say f*ck my stupid pretentious ugly toilet and install a japanese bathroom. Anyway, the point is he brings up these points in really interesting ways, and I'm always a fan of more reasons to see beauty in the world :)PS It's so weird how amazon doesn't let you post a review unless you answer the question "How would you describe the plot of this book?", regardless of whether it's fiction with a "plot" or not. Like, the question comes up on my textbooks and this nonfiction piece too. So silly.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    A thoughtful meditation
  

*by W***D on Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2023*

I can't call this an essay, in the sense of offering a logical progression in support of some thesis. Instead, it's a meandering stroll through one mans thoughts as Japan started toward Westernization. It's a pleasure to see this writer carry contradictory ideas without conflict between them. For example, he rhapsodizes about the elegance of traditional Japanese toilets, separated from living quarters but having nothing else in common with an American outhouse. He contrasts that with the sterile garishness of white Western porcelain. But, at the same time, he acknowledges the practicality of indoor plumbing, especially where population densities increase. Likewise, he seems at peace with the benefit and inevitability of electric lighting (this was in the 1930s) and telephones, at the same time that he laments how difficult they are to resolve with the majestic simplicity of traditional Japanese architecture.This, I think, is how his 'shadows' enter into his thoughts. For centuries, indoor lighting had been diffuse and indirect sunlight with only subtle influence on interior rooms, or the flame of a candle or oil lamp. With darkness a fact of life, not a problem to solve, Tanizaki explores how architecture, decor, even clothing and dining evolved to make the most of its contrasts. The gold flecks in lacquerware would stand out like stars in the night when candle-lit, not just sit flat as pointless bits of decoration. He goes on to discuss how traditional theater forms used the contrast of darkness and li ght, and how that is lost in the glare of artificial light.Tanizaki's sense of loss seems more wistful, an acknowledgement of the inevitable, and less a protest of erased culture. Perhaps that's what keeps this brief book relevant today. Without wholly condemning the Western influence on Asian society, he brings a different view, a different set of assumptions to even the most mundane details of life. As I reflect on it, I see the attraction in that view, and it makes me think about how it could help deepen and enrich out modern world.-- wiredweird.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    In Praise of Shadows is a very insightful read.
  

*by C***J on Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2016*

I got this books for a college class and found myself learning a lot more than I had expected. In this book you examine why, in Japan, things look the way they do and are built in the ways they are. You really delve into the cultural significance as well as the spiritual, What you take away from this book is an understanding of the why the materials that were used in feudal buildings were and are still used today. Not a boring book at all. It does get dark sometimes while reading, no pun intended, but nothing too drastic. The read was smooth and I retained a lot of what I read. This book is a classic, and gives you a great perspective into Japanese aesthetics as a historical driving force in Japan. It also allows for you to make your own conclusions on if aesthetics are still present in Japan to this day and if its existence is still relevant to Japanese culture. It is not a very long book at all and you can knock it out in a very short while. Though it is short, you will have a better understanding of Japanese sociology as well as the reasons why Japan has formed the way it has. Overall, I felt this book offered a lot. This book has been around for a while, and I am glad that I got around to reading it. If you are interested in Japan at all, please take a look at this book and get a feel for the country, more than just the superficial and stereotypical "sushi" and "manga" perspectives. You'll take away a lot more than anyone else who just looks at current Japan ever will. Light, easy read with very insightful explanations of Japanese sociological workings and their reasons for existing. Recommend.

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*Product available on Desertcart Kyrgyzstan*
*Store origin: KG*
*Last updated: 2026-03-07*