Discussion: Craig Mod undergoes an interview session
Craig Mod's Long Walks Through Japan and the Charm of Old-Fashioned Coffee Shops
Craig Mod, an American based in Tokyo, is a writer, photographer, designer, and publisher with a unique perspective on publishing, deeply influenced by traditional Japanese book culture. His work emphasizes the delicacy, craftsmanship, and small-scale approach that characterize Japanese aesthetics.
Mod's fascination with Japan began in 2014 when he started taking long walks, initially invited by a friend. Since then, he has embarked on numerous journeys, some lasting for days, others for months or even years. One of his latest walks, the Nakasendo Highway, focuses on old-fashioned coffee shops called kissaten.
In his latest book, "Kissa by Kissa," Mod documents a 1000 km walk along the Nakasendo highway in search of these beloved yet dwindling establishments. The charm of kissaten, with their traditional atmosphere and intimate settings, resonates with Mod's appreciation for the simplicity and rationality of Japanese book sizes and covers.
Mod's tech gear for these long walks includes a 13" laptop, full-frame camera, Garmin watch for GPS tracking, and an iPhone, allowing him to work from anywhere indefinitely. Despite the digital tools, Mod's approach to publishing remains rooted in the values he admires in traditional Japanese book culture—prioritizing quality, intentionality, and a sense of place.
The Nakasendo Highway offers a more solitary walk compared to the Kumano Kodo, another of Mod's walking journeys. The Kumano Kodo has dramatically risen in popularity in the last decade due to promotional efforts, but the Nakasendo Highway retains a quiet, intimate charm.
Mod's work often emphasizes the value of "edges" and defined boundaries, which he finds important for focusing and meditating. He finds inspiration for his work by going on walks, even in his local area, and often discovers new details and delights on repeated walks.
Contemporary Japanese society also cherishes classic kissaten, as evidenced by books dedicated to discovering the best kissa in various cities. Some classic kissaten are being carried forward by new owners who maintain the traditional spirit, while others are disappearing due to urban and demographic changes. However, they will not fully disappear, as their charm and the love for them in Japanese society endure.
Pizza toast, a classic comfort food in Japan and popular for decades, is another aspect of Japanese culture that Mod has come to appreciate during his walks. It provides a taste of familiarity amidst the unfamiliar, much like the old-fashioned coffee shops he seeks out on his journeys.
In sum, Craig Mod's long walks through Japan, particularly his pursuit of old-fashioned coffee shops, reflect his respect for craftsmanship, his emphasis on delicacy and sustainability, and his integration of place-based narrative practices. These values, rooted in traditional Japanese book culture, inform both his analogue and digital publishing endeavors.
- Craig Mod's latest book, "Kissa by Kissa," showcases his appreciation for the traditional charm of old-fashioned Japanese coffee shops, or kissaten, echoing his admiration for the delicacy and craftsmanship of traditional Japanese book culture.
- Contemporary Japanese society continues to cherish the traditional kissaten, as evidenced by books dedicated to discovering the best kissa in various cities, demonstrating the enduring love for these establishments within the culture.
- During his prolonged walks through Japan, Craig Mod often encounters various aspects of the country's rich lifestyle, such as the classic comfort food, pizza toast, which offers him a taste of familiarity amidst the unfamiliar.
- Mod's work is deeply influenced by the traditional Japanese book culture, prioritizing quality, intentionality, and a sense of place, carrying these values over into his analogue and digital publishing endeavors.
- The charm of the Nakasendo Highway, with its quiet, intimate ambiance, resonates with Mod's fascination for the simplicity and rationality of Japanese aesthetics, much like the traditional atmosphere and intimate settings of the beloved kissaten he seeks out on his journeys.
