White not only plays an important role in Japanese culture in general but also in the work of designer Kenya Hara. In '100 Whites', Hara gives one hundred specific examples of white - such as snow, Iceland, rice, and wax. On the basis of these examples he discusses the importance of white in design - not only as a color but as a philosophy. Hara describes how he experiments with the different whites he mentions, what they mean in the process of his work, and how they influence design today. '100 Whites' is the extension of his previously published book 'White'. The new publication explores the essence of white, which Hara sees as symbolizing simplicity and subtlety. Kenya Hara, born in 1958, is a Japanese graphic designer and professor at the Musashino Art University. Since 2002 he has been the art director for MUJI.

He is interested in the circumstances and conditions of design, and not the things. His interests have become crystallized through various international exhibitions and he has been awarded many prizes, including the Japanese Cultural Design Award.