--- product_id: 1699829 title: "In Praise of Shadows" price: "€ 26.76" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.sk/products/1699829-in-praise-of-shadows store_origin: SK region: Slovakia --- # In Praise of Shadows **Price:** € 26.76 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** In Praise of Shadows - **How much does it cost?** € 26.76 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.sk](https://www.desertcart.sk/products/1699829-in-praise-of-shadows) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description An essay on aesthetics by the Japanese novelist, this book explores architecture, jade, food, and even toilets, combining an acute sense of the use of space in buildings. The book also includes descriptions of laquerware under candlelight and women in the darkness of the house of pleasure. Review: Good read - I'm not a huge fan of reading- I needed this book for school- but I really liked this book/ essay and it really made me think more about perspectives and shadows Review: A thoughtful meditation - 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. ## Features - Used Book in Good Condition ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #12,653 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #2 in Philosophy Aesthetics #17 in Essays (Books) #35 in Literary Movements & Periods | | Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,968 Reviews | ## Images ![In Praise of Shadows - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61BphMA1BML.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good read *by K***A on February 8, 2026* I'm not a huge fan of reading- I needed this book for school- but I really liked this book/ essay and it really made me think more about perspectives and shadows ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A thoughtful meditation *by W***D 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. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ In Praise of Shadows is a very insightful read. *by C***J 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. ## Frequently Bought Together - In Praise of Shadows - Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers - Wabi-Sabi: Further Thoughts --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.sk/products/1699829-in-praise-of-shadows](https://www.desertcart.sk/products/1699829-in-praise-of-shadows) --- *Product available on Desertcart Slovakia* *Store origin: SK* *Last updated: 2026-05-16*