Winter Like No Other: A Journey Through Japan’s Quietest Season
Craft of Meaning - Design led studio, surface patterns, photography, bespoke art, storytelling
“On the barren branches
of trees deep in sleep,
a blossom blooms…”
We left behind the grey and gloom of London to experience Japan for the second time—this time in late winter, when even in the harsh cold, nature continues to bless those who take the time to notice.
Who could have imagined that in just 15 days, we would witness the warmest golden sun and the richest greens—from towering pines to whispering bamboo, from velvety moss to the vibrant matcha treats I love so much? That we would stand before the most exquisite winter peonies, sheltered in their delicate straw huts, and see red camellias and plum blossoms burst to life—from the purest white to soft pink to the deepest, most striking crimson? That we would feel the sudden bite of a snowstorm, a sharp contrast to the quiet abundance surrounding us?
Once again, we were mesmerized by the beauty of this land and how intimately nature is woven into everyday life. Here, the seasons are not simply observed but deeply celebrated. Even amidst the concrete of modernity, nature finds its place—in small pockets of greenery, in gardens both humble and grand, in parks where time seems to stand still. The reverence is unmistakable. Nature is the queen.
Variety of experiences and visuals we encountered are at the heart of the work it inspired, including the timeless motif of the Three Friends of Winter—Plum, Pine, and Bamboo—a symbol of resilience and endurance shared across many Asian cultures. Yet, as with the season itself, unexpected elements emerge: peonies, thriving in the cold under their protective straw shelters; birds, flitting through the branches, bringing sudden bursts of movement and life to the quiet landscape.
Through this collection of designs, I hope to share a glimpse of a winter unlike any other—one filled with richness, colour, and quiet luxury, hidden within the depths of the harshest season.
Over the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing the stories behind this body of work—from fleeting moments on our trip to the quiet process of creating once we returned home.