How Lexus Is Bringing Ancient Craftsmanship to Modern Luxury Cars

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How Lexus Is Bringing Ancient Craftsmanship to Modern Luxury Cars
Inspirations & Creations

Tea Ceremony|
Dating to the ninth century, the formal Japanese tea ceremony—even in modernized form—is a ritualized, highly choreographed art requiring years to master. (Some practitioners achieve the status of takumi.) "The way of tea" (chado) honors harmony, purity, and simplicity. It's one of Japan's most revered and influential traditions.

Kaiseki Dinner
A "haute cuisine" meal of small portions and multiple courses renowned for its meticulous preparation and the masterly aesthetics of its presentation. Like the tea ceremony, it celebrates simplicity, quality, and expertise. Often served at ryokan (traditional Japanese inns).

Sashiko Stitching
A time-honored form of Japanese quilting often used in martial arts uniforms because of its strength and beauty. Lexus UX chief designer Tetsuo Miki incorporated sashiko patterns into the vehicle's leather seats.

Artwood
Available as optional trim on the LS sedan, Artwood is a complex, time-intensive process wherein takumi laminate layers of woods, often using the "Yamaha technique" (the same method the maker uses to create its pianos), to create "unique trees"—patterns that do not occur in nature.

Engawa
An open-air extension of wood flooring around the edge of traditional Japanese homes that bridges the inside and the outdoors. In the UX, Lexus designers used the engawa effect to make it appear that the upper instrument panel extends through the windshield. This helps improve the driver's field of vision.

Washi Paper
Used in such Japanese arts as origami and sushi presentations, traditional washi paper is largely made by hand. The new Lexus UX crossover features interior trim that replicates the paper's unique fiber patterns for a calming and aesthetically pleasing finish.

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