Recognizing the Similar and Thus Accepting the Other: The European and Japanese Traditions of Building With Wood

This article shows that building issues have not been tackled fundamentally differently in Europe and Japan despite large cultural differences. Different expressions must necessarily be equated with different thinking. The paper contrasts two apparently contradictory views. Numerous analyses of Japanese “otherness” “Western” as well local perception dominate the literature. But results extensive architectural field surveys seem to indicate contrary. These show similar equal backgrounds conditions resulting types techniques. They our ways addressing a task are prompted by pragmatism. Broadly identical solutions were developed worldwide long before globalization. Yet this realization does allow us conclude appearances can taken content.