The Question of "Japaneseness" and the Creation of the "Greater Oriental Design" for Crafts of the Japanese Empire.

The article discusses the development of a Japanese identity during the time of the Japanese Empire and the relationship of this identity to an understanding of a wider Oriental consciousness. The author gives particular emphasis to the relations between Japan and Taiwan during this time, focusing on the ways such "Japaneseness" influenced Taiwanese crafts during its period of Japanese occupation. The impact of the arts and crafts movement on Japanese crafts is detailed. Various types of crafts are described, including studio, industrial, and folk. The exporting of crafts from Japan to the U.S. is examined.