Japanese product philosophy recognizes that maker attitude affects product quality—products made by dedicated, proud makers differ from products made indifferently. The concept of kodawari (obsessive attention to detail, uncompromising dedication) names makers who pursue quality beyond commercial requirement, continuing refinement past economic necessity, maintaining standards when shortcuts would go unnoticed. Pride creates intrinsic motivation for excellence; workers who identify with what they make maintain quality beyond external requirement.
The takumi (master craftsman) represents dedication fully developed, culturally celebrated for commitment that produces the finest products. This pattern means provenance matters—knowing who made something and how they approached making it is relevant to product evaluation.
Comments