In this video, Nick Kemp reflects on the interplay of kodawari (dedication to perfection) and wabi-sabi (embracing imperfection) through the lens of traditional Japanese pottery. Inspired by his father-in-law’s craft of making matcha-jawan (tea ceremony bowls), he explores how Japanese artisans balance meticulous attention to detail with acceptance of the unpredictable nature of their materials and processes.
Chasing perfection while accepting it will never be fully attained
Nick: That's really interesting because it reminds me of my father-in-law, he makes pottery. He makes traditional tea ceremony cups, matcha-jawan, and wabi-sabi is definitely an aesthetic related to traditional pottery.
You're right, he and his sons have spent countless hours perfecting their craft and making these beautiful cups. Yet, once they fire them, they never know what's going to happen to the matcha-jawan, it can come out slightly cracked, it'll shrink.
So yeah, there are these two elements at play, of kodawari, going to extreme care with the fine details of one's work, but also this understanding of wabi-sabi, this acceptance that you have limited control and there's this natural aspect to certain crafts, I think.
So pottery deals with clay, water, fire. So it's fascinating how Japanese understand this in their hobbies or in their serious leisure and can accept that, and pursue perfection knowing they'll never get it. Perhaps in the West, we don't think like that.