Valuation Dissonance between Traditional and SNS Worldsfor Japanese Confectionary Wagashi

The Japanese confectionary wagashi has been evaluated by traditional Japanese criteria, such as simplicity and serenity, within the traditional tea ceremony. However, the popularization of the social networking service (SNS) (that is, technological change) has led to the introduction of valuation criteria focusing on the efficacy of showcasing one’s unique and colorful life (emotions and experiences) through photographs and letters (Suda and Morisaki 2018). Thus, there are two valuation “worlds” (the traditional world and the SNS world that comprise specific events, materials, persons involved, and the valuation criteria) of wagashi (Morisaki and Suda 2016; 2017) that share a dissonant relationship. This paper examines whether the two valuation worlds should be in contradiction with each other. Based on a case of a wagashi artisan/performer, we can say that there is a possibility to synthesize them. Moreover, the valuation dissonance introduced by the “SNS technology” might serve as a source of “liberal arts” innovation.