Japan could be called ‘the country of the hand’.

The Japanese philosopher Sōetsu Yanagi (1889-1961) claims that hands as well as handwork are becoming a significant part of Japanese culture. This is because many expressions such as using kanji ‘手’ = ‘hand’ represent ability or capacity; for instance, ‘上手’ (be good at) or ‘下手’ (be not good at), ‘手柄’ (a feat), ‘手腕’ (ability/skill) and ‘手本にする’(after the model of).

This could be because it is traditionally believed that hands are always connected to the heart. Hands are not automatically working like a machine. Due to the fact that the heart is always behind the handwork, outcome is created beautifully and it makes people pleased; handwork could be called ‘heart-work’.

Japanese people are often expressive as ‘they are good with their hands’. This image could come from some cultural customs such as origami and use of chopsticks. Although it cannot be said that all Japanese people are good with their hands, at least it could be said that people in other Asian countries not only Japan, have been naturally trained to use their fingers and hands and have been used to doing precision work using chopsticks (e.g. to bone a fish using chopsticks).

Stationery is often designed sensitively so that users are required to use then gently and carefully, for instance, correction tape has such a narrow width and should be treated gently otherwise the tape will slip off from the top, but people used to using chopsticks would not think it as inconvenience and would take the advantage from their functions.