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11 beautiful Japanese concepts to inspire better living -

People have been dipping into Japanese culture and philosophy for many years now, and it appears to be a well that never runs dry, slowly flowing into societies around the world and spreading age-old wisdom about how to live a happier, more balanced, and more fulfilling life.

It’s the non-commodified, original teachings of self-care that people are turning to now, which can be implemented by anyone this very moment to cultivate a greater sense of peace, productivity, and purpose.

Sounds too easy? Check out this gallery to see for yourself.

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Kaizen -

The term kaizen translates to "continuous improvement" and is used both personally and as a business philosophy, as it encourages changing for the better and increasing efficiency. It was first practiced by Japanese businesses after WWII, its principles later dubbed "The Toyota Way" because of the company's massive success.

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Kaizen -

But it's not about doing anything drastic. Rather, it implies that taking small, ongoing steps to make incremental changes on a regular basis will give you the most significant results. Letting go of assumptions and perfectionism, as well as setting achievable goals, is encouraged over tackling a huge goal all at once.

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Kaizen -

You can also apply it in the fitness sense, by committing to exercise for 15 minutes a day rather than manically trying to knock out a two-hour workout when you're motivated. In personal and professional environments, kaizen is a concept that encourages positive regular habits.

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Oubaitori -

This is one of the most poetic ancient Japanese concepts, which comes from the kanji (one of the three scripts used in the Japanese language) for the four trees that bloom in spring: cherry blossoms, peach, plum, and apricot. Each flower of each tree blooms when it is ready, it does not concern itself with the progress of other flowers, and spectators do not judge each flower for when it blossoms. Can you see what we're getting at?

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Oubaitori -

The meaning within the concept is that we all grow and bloom at our own pace, so we should never compare ourselves to others. Instead, we just have to work with whatever the elements offer us and trust that we will blossom when it's our time, and it will only be beautiful.

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Oubaitori -

Comparison is the thief of joy, as Theodore Roosevelt accurately noted, and yet it's easier than ever to open up social media and see a million people seemingly doing better than you. It leaves us feeling inadequate, valuing what we don't have more than what we do, and it's a slippery slope that must be avoided at all costs.

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Mottainai -

The Japanese term mottainai can be an exclamation that translates to "What a waste!" and is often used to express a sense of regret for not taking good care of something or not using it to its full potential. It's centered on the belief that we must respect the resources we have and use them with a sense of gratitude and intention.

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Mottainai -

It's a philosophy that focuses on the importance of not wasting any kind of resource, from food and water to energy and time. Repurposing used containers, reusing bags, and being conservative with our shower times are just a few examples of ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle, which are all part of mottainai.

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Mottainai -

There's a sadness about excessive consumption baked into the term, and some Japanese companies, like retail brand Uniqlo, have adopted it as part of their internal code of ethics. There's also a sense of gratitude for nature laden in the concept, which urges us to act out of respect for these valuable resources. We can all practice it by intentionally reducing both our consumption and waste to make the world more sustainable.

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Wabi-sabi -

Wabi-sabi is a concept that encourages us to find beauty in what is imperfect and impermanent, and practice gratitude for the natural, constantly-moving cycle of life.

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Wabi-sabi -

It's a Zen Buddhist philosophy, which acknowledges three basic tenets: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect. Everything, including us, is in a constant state of flux, and since it's all transient and never complete, this concept reminds us to strive for excellence, not perfection.

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Wabi-sabi -

In a personal sense, the concept can be applied in our relationships, as we refrain from judging people as if they are incapable of change, and as we learn to graciously accept our own and other people's flaws.

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Kintsugi -

Kintsugi, also referred to as kintsukuroi, is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold or silver lacquer. When a bowl is broken, it's not discarded, but rather pieced back together with patience, its cracks not hidden but rather highlighted.

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Kintsugi -

 This honoring of the material and the celebration of its flaws results in a stunning finish, perhaps much more beautiful than its original. This combines both wabi-sabi, where imperfections are admirable, and mottainai, where we avoid waste.

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Kintsugi -

It's a reminder that we are allowed to be fragile, we can break, and we can put ourselves back together and reemerge more beautiful than ever and be proud of our past. The name itself translates to "golden journeys" and highlights how honorable the path of embracing our own flaws can be.

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Mono no aware -

This term literally translates to "the pathos of things," or the powerful emotions that things can evoke in us, but the concept is the bittersweet realization of the ephemeral nature of all things. It's centered on having a deep empathy for the fleetingness of time and the impermanence of things—like our youth, the seasons, romance—and realizing that all things will eventually fade.

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Mono no aware -

But instead of feeling sad, it encourages us to appreciate that the impermanence of these things are what made them so beautiful. With practice, we can be grateful and cherish the beauty of the present moment without getting attached to it.

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Mono no aware -

In today's society, we have become so attached to things and so addicted to immortalizing moments—think about the stress one might feel to take a photo of a beautiful moment or the sadness of missing the chance to record something. This concept encourages us to appreciate the fleeting nature of life's sweetest moments, and thus alleviates unnecessary stress and sadness from mourning things inevitably lost to time.

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Shu ha ri -

Shu ha ri is a Japanese martial art concept that translates to "follow, breakaway, and transcend," and describes the stages of learning on the path to mastery. Aikido master teacher Endo Seishiro summarized the three stages, and the first of which, shu, involves repeating the forms and disciplining ourselves so that we imitate the right way to do something without deviation.

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Shu ha ri -

The next step, ha, is reached after we've learned proper form, and only then can we begin to make innovations. Only then can the forms be broken or discarded—in other words, you have to learn the rules before you break them, so that you can break them intelligently.

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Shu ha ri -

The final stage is ri, where the forms can be left behind entirely and new creative technique can arise. Then we can act in accordance with what our heart and mind desires without hesitation and without overstepping laws.

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Ikigai -

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that roughly translates to "reason for being," or "something which makes life worth living." It's the state of well-being induced by devotion to enjoyable activities, which then ultimately leads to a sense of fulfilment, according to Japanese psychologist Michiko Kumano.

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Ikigai -

It's the idea that everyone has something they are passionate about, and that pursuing their passion is what will bring them happiness. What is the reason you get up in the morning? What do you often find yourself daydreaming about? What motivates you? These are all ways you can explore your ikigai. It's said that in Japan, those who have a purpose in life will live longer.

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Gaman -

Gaman is a Japanese term of Zen Buddhist origin, which is often translated as "endurance" or "perseverance." It's a virtue centered on maintaining patience and dignity through seemingly unbearable situations.

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Gaman -

Often associated with stoicism and resilience, it focuses on enduring challenging situations without complaining or giving up. It takes great emotional strength, but sometimes our own complaining and negative self-talk creates unnecessary additional obstacles for ourselves. It encourages mental and emotional strength to keep going even when things are tough.

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Shikata ga nai -

This Japanese term roughly translates to "it cannot be helped," or "nothing can be done about it." It's another way of saying, "It is what it is," and is used to express a sense of acceptance in the face of a difficult situation.

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Shikata ga nai -

The concept encourages us to recognize when something is out of our hands and to make peace with it. It cuts out excess frustration, stress, and unhappiness over things we cannot change, and instead puts our focus on what is in our range of action to move forward.

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Omotenashi -

This Japanese expression comes out of the traditional tea ceremony and roughly describes concepts of hospitality, graciousness, and mindfulness. It's about offering the best service without expecting any reward.

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Omotenashi -

The term became especially popular after Japanese TV personality Christel Takigawa, the ambassador for the Tokyo 2020 bid, popularized the concept in her speech to the International Olympic Committee. It's an important part of Japanese culture and society, and it's a great way for other cultures to learn how simple gestures of kindness can make someone feel comfortable.

Sources: (Oishya) (Better Humans) (Culture Trip) (Accenture)

See also: The Japanese art of decluttering and organizing

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