White is not a book about colors. It is rather Kenya Haras attempt to explore the essence of
White which he sees as being closely related to the origin of Japanese aesthetics -
symbolizing simplicity and subtlety. The central concepts discussed by Kenya Hara in this
publication are emptiness and the absolute void. Kenya Hara also sees his work as a designer as
a form of communication. Good communication has the distinction of being able to listen to each
other rather than to press one's opinion onto the opponent. Kenya Hara compares this form of
communication with an empty container. In visual communication there are equally signals whose
signification is limited as well as signals or symbols such as the cross or the red circle on
the Japanese flag which - like an empty container - permit every signification and do not
limit imagination. Not alone the fact that the Japanese character for white forms a radical of
the character for emptiness has prompted him the closely associate the color white with
emptiness.
