Japanese minimalism crosses over into concepts that are intended to promote better mental and emotional health.

Western minimalism attempts to reduce the number of possessions to the smallest amount necessary but Japanese minimalism only tries to limit the number of possessions to those that are necessary for a simple, sustainable, lifestyle.

I’ve tried to arrange them so you can see how the ideas behind Japanese minimalism are interconnected.

However, I am not an expert. This post is only to spark interest.

Oubaitori

Stop comparing yourself to others. Every life is unique. Don’t allow the expectations of others keep you from discovering the things that make you happy.

Ikigai

“A reason for being.” Ikigai can be applied to many things. A simple, minimalist lifestyle is no different. Ikigai is your purpose; your “why”. What is it about minimalism and/or living a simple life that gives you joy? That’s your ikigai. It’s the core around which you create a meaningful lifestyle for yourself.

Hibi no Kansha

Express gratitude for things that give you joy and peace.

Shisa kanko

“Point and call”. If you struggle to keep focused, shisa kanko is a technique used by Japanese train conductors and it’s exactly what it sounds like. Literally point at the object you want to use and say what you are going to do out loud. Shisa kanko can help you develop new habits, keep you focus on tasks, or when you need to remember things under stress.

Danshari

Don’t allow possessions to possess you. Dan: Refuse unnecessary things. Sha: Let go of things that no longer serve you. Ri: Emotionally detach from possessions that don’t bring you joy.

Motainai

Respect what you already have. Treat your possessions with care. Repair broken things. Repurpose old items instead of buying new things. Replace belongings that can’t be repaired with items of good quality that you love.

Wabi-sabi

Find beauty in imperfection.

Kaizen

The Power of Small Improvements. Instead of trying to make major lifestyle changes, make incremental changes daily. The “One Minute Principle” is a principle of kaizen. If a task can be done in one minute or less do it now instead of procrastinating.

Ichigo ichi

“One time, one meeting”. No moment will ever be the same. Learn to perform tasks, cleaning, etc. with your full attention.

Ma

Empty space. Ma is the space between the flowers in an arrangement and the pauses between the words in poems. Utilize empty space to bring out the beauty in your possessions. This is a really good place to point out that in Japanese minimalism it’s perfectly fine to own decorative items. Ideally, they should add to the serenity of your home and blend into the surroundings.

Shinrin Yoku

The Power of Nature. Incorporating natural elements that bring you peace are important in making minimalism a sustainable lifestyle.

These are some of the main principles of Japanese minimalism.

Next, I’ll aim to add anecdotes of my experiences trying to incorporate some of the principles of Japanese Minimalism into my own life.