App Shopper: Life in Edo (Books)

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Life in Edo

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26 Views of LIFE in EDO
The Edo Period (1603-1868)

◆Introduction
A New century has begun. Yet we are still unable to see beyond today's confusion because our economic and social system are at breaking points. Today's yardsticks and values alone are no longer adequate enough to show us how we can overcome this situation.
We have decided to take ourselves back four hundred years in time to Edo Period to see if we can find values that can act as clues on how we can address today's issues. Edo is the former name of Tokyo, built by feudal government. The Edo Period continued for two hundred and sixty five stable years, with an enriching culture and a population of over 1 million living together in a city so hygienic that it amazed the rest of the world.
At that time, less than 10 percent is samurai in a population and the remainder 90% or more is the citizens. Fortunately, many ukiyoe artists painted the everyday lives of people. Focusing our lenses on ""Life in Edo"" is extremely revealing. We may also rediscover many values that have disappeared or is on the verge of disappearing from our lives today.

About the original artwork in the photographs
Each page were made by using recyclable items such as used calendars, wrapping paper, yakitori and ice candy sticks, and other unwanted but reusable items that are found around us. It would have been easy just to go and buy such bits and pieces for the artwork, but bearing in mind that in the Edo Period, nothing was thrown away, all the artwork was made by "recycling and creating."

◆Contents
1 News − information management
2 Transportation − energy saving
3 Water Supply − high-tech
4 Sewage − efficient use of rivers
5 Toilets − recycling human waste
6 Shopping −no disposable packaging
7 Clothes −hand-me-downs and recycling
8 Crops and rice − no left-over
9 Seafood and vegetables − no food wastage
10 Houses − procuring domestic materials
11 Lifestyle − friendly neighborhoods
12 Air-conditioning and lighting − living naturally
13 Everyday materials −nature-made
14 Possessions −maintenance
15 Travel and transportation − slow and steady
16 Communication − by word of mouth
17 Social structure − sprit of self-support"
18 Contribution to society − returning gains
19 Disaster prevention − in groups and organizations
20 Education − voluntary teaching
21 Children − learning from experience
22 Elderly People − retired but resourceful
23 Entertainment − humor
24 Culture − rich regard for nature
25 Religion − religious freedom
26 Values − sense of cool