rockm
Spuds Moyogi
I saw this link over on IBC (posted by our friend Jim). I thought it one of the best articles I've seen on Japanese esthetics, wabi-sabi, mono no aware, impermanance, austerity, etc. It covers a lot of ground in pretty simple terms.
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/japanese-aesthetics/#2
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/japanese-aesthetics/#2