Loneliness and Innovation in the Name of Wabisuke: Reinterpreting Wabi-Sabi from "Summer Wars"
The loneliness and adventure of Wabisuke
─Reinterpretation of Wabi-Sabi from "Summer Wars"─
Introduction: Wabi-Sabi is not an aesthetic of the past
When you hear the term "wabi-sabi," many people may think of dry landscape gardens, tea rooms, and beauty found in silence.
A symbolic example of this is Jinnai Wabisuke, who appears in director Mamoru Hosoda's masterpiece "Summer Wars."
The lineage of "wabi" (wabi) contained in the name Wabisuke
Jinnai Wabisuke is an adopted son of the Jinnai family and is kept at a distance by his family.
As his name suggests, Wabisuke is a symbol of solitude and tranquility, yet he is also the character who takes the most innovative action in the story.
The intersection of innovation and loneliness: Wabisuke as the developer of Love Machine
Suke is the creator of the story's key AI, the "Love Machine," and his actions are at the heart of a world-changing technological innovation that is viewed as a "betrayal" by his family.
This duality is the essence of modern wabi-sabi. Creativity in solitude. Alienated, yet with a gaze that looks to the future more than anyone else.
"Should the person who made the knife assume responsibility for any incidents that occur with that knife?" Suke's words call into question the boundary between technology and ethics.
Redefining Wabi-Sabi: The Power of Living with Imperfection
Wabisuke's story is one of disconnection from his family, shock, and gratitude. He is not perfect.
However, this imperfection is the very essence of wabi-sabi. Rather than striving for perfection, we find beauty in what is lacking - this is the Wabisuke way of life and the philosophy that WABISUKE pursues.
Conclusion: WABISUKE aims for "the aesthetics of solitude and innovation"
The character Wabisuke is a being who resides in loneliness.
We want to be a brand that doesn't just preserve tradition, but embraces loneliness and imperfection and finds new beauty in them.