The Riddle of the Macaroni Hole, 2001 Asahi Shimbunsha compiled a series of columns that Hara had written for the Nihon Keizai Shimbun [Japan Economic Newspaper] from 2000 to 2001.
Designing Design, 2007 In
Designing Design, Hara explains his theories and philosophical approach to design. Hara writes about the essence of design: "There are an unlimited number of ways of thinking and perceiving. In my understanding, to design is to intentionally apply to ordinary objects, phenomena and communication the essence of these innumerable ways of thinking and perceiving". "Producing something new from scratch is creative, but making known unknown is also an act of creation. Maybe the latter is more useful in nailing down just what design is".
Dialogue in Design: Kenya Hara & Masayo Ave, 2007 White, 2010 He also authored another book,
White, which explores white as a design concept. He points out that "white is a color from which color has escaped, but its diversity is boundless." In this book, Kenya Hara elaborates on the importance of "emptiness" in both the visual and philosophical traditions of
Japan and its application to design. Hara writes: "In some cases, white denotes "emptiness." White as noncolor transforms into a symbol of nonbeing. Yet emptiness doesn't mean "nothingness" or "energy-less"; rather, in many cases, it indicates a condition, or
kizen, which will likely be filled with content in the future. On the basis of this assumption, the application of white is able to create a forceful energy for communication."
Awakening for Design, 2014 Ex-formation, 2017 The book introduces a communication design method that is based on the new concept of determining how to make people aware of what they do not know.
Designing Japan: a future built on aesthetics, 2018 In 2018, the English edition of
Nihon no dezain: Biishiki ga tsukuru mirai was released as
Designing Japan: A Future Built on Aesthetics. In this work, Hara explains his vision of how his industry can support Japan in crafting a future founded on a unique philosophy of beauty as well as crowd-sourced wisdom from around the world. The book is important for understanding Japanese aesthetics, while maintaining a practical approach to Japan's circumstances and future possibilities.
100 Whites, 2019 100 Whites is the extension of his previously published book 'White'. In this book, Hara gives 100 specific examples of white to explain the importance in design. 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. == Awards ==