“There are some craftspeople in Japan who don’t really know how to get their name out there in the world, or are so involved in their craft, they don’t have the time or interest in promoting it,” says Irwin Wong, the author of “Handmade in Japan: The Pursuit of Perfection in Traditional Crafts.”

“That’s not to say they aren’t keen to share their work, though. It was surprisingly easy to visit them, talk to them and take photos.”

Handmade in Japan: The Pursuit of Perfection in Traditional Crafts, by Irwin Wong320 pagesGESTALTEN