Echoes of the Past

A country at the forefront of high-tech innovation yet still keeping up with ancient traditions – that sounds like modern Japan. Centuries of isolation, followed by rapid modernization, have resulted in a culture that successfully combines the old with the new.

In Kyoto’s ancient districts, the echo of zori slippers clacking on the cobbled alleyways can be heard every night. Geisha are on their way to meet clients. Behind the walls of the wooden townhouses, they entertain their guests with their artistry built on generations of discipline.

It’s probably not too far-fetched to think that this ethos of precision is the same one that has enabled Japan to become a leader in high-tech innovation. You may be surprised to learn how many everyday items originate from Japanese laboratories.

Any mobile electronic device you use, from tablets to smartphones to wearables, relies on lithium-ion battery technology that can be traced back to Japanese research. Likewise, when you turn on the lights in your car or home, there’s a good chance that this only works because Japanese researchers solved the problem of creating blue LEDs.

Yet step back onto the cobbled alleys of Kyoto at night, and none of this becomes apparent. All you can hear is the soft clack of zori slippers on stone.