ARAMONO: THE BEAUTY OF EVERYDAY LIFE

Although you might ordinarily head to Kensington to see world-renowned treasures at one of its many cultural venues, at Japan House London, until 30 June 2023, you can also delight in the beauty and ingenuity of the everyday.

Guests can get a glimpse into daily life in Japan over the last few hundred years through a display of aramono, a term which refers to household goods such as brooms, brushes, dustpans and baskets which are functional, ordinary and well-loved. This free display shows these objects piled high on a full-scale cart as they would have been in the 19th century by a trader selling his wares on the cart, he pulled along himself.

The display also invites guests to learn about the history of aramano. In Japan’s Muromachi period (1336-1573 CE), larger, cheaper daily commodities necessary for daily life became known as aramono because they were considered to be ‘rough,’ which is the meaning of the word arai. Rooted in a time before plastic and electricity, aramono were made from natural materials, carefully chosen to ensure longevity. There are few differences between the aramono of then and now, and the functionality and durability of these wellmade items carries lessons in design and sustainability that still apply today.

After admiring the everyday beauty of the items on display, you are invited to browse a select range of aramono for sale in the Shop at Japan House London. Whether you’re in need of a broom, brush, dustpan, basket or similar, the simple elegance of these everyday treasures, produced on a small-scale using centuries-old processes, is sure to be a talking point in any home.

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