Since the beginning of the 20th century, the Japanese handicrafts as a method and concept of design has gradually taken root and sprouted in European and American countries, becoming a fascinating example of the reverse influence of East Asian culture during the fierce process of western civilization of the world. With many Japanese modern design works as examples, the work aims to discuss how Japanese national culture and traditional handicraft concepts have influenced modern design in the 20th century from the perspectives of view of nature, ethics and characteristics of technology in Japanese traditional culture, and expound the experience that Chinese design scholars should learn from. The unique views of aesthetics, cosmology and life in traditional Japanese culture have gradually merged into modern civilization. This historical process is an invaluable experience for designers in Asian countries, including China.