by Beth Kempton
Index
A
acceptance:
of
actuality 92 –3
of hard stuff 101 –2
of imperfection, and allowing others to see it 95
of less than full capacity 93
of others, as and where they are 131
of ourselves, just as we are 5
of past 88
practising 104 –5
of present 89 –90
of reality and accompanying insight 15
and self-appreciation 103
and surrendering to truth 93
of true nature of life 85
of true needs, as simple 15 , 37
Adachi, Kyōko 137 , 138
Adachi, Michiyuki 138
author’s meeting with described by 137 –8
‘aesthetic arrest’ 18
ageing:
anti-, creams for 99 , 178
beauty of 179 –81
Akiyama, Tomohide 74
allowing the future 102 –3
The Anatomy of Self (Doi) 76
Anraku-ji Temple, Kyōto 135
Asian economic crisis 110
awe, impermanence of 81
B
Baikal, Lake 115
Bashō, Matsuo 16 , 64 , 80
Bath University 197
bathhouse (sento ), lessons from 96 –7
beauty:
beneath 36 –8
mono no aware 36 –7
sabi 37 –8
wabi 37
Yūgen 37
call of 173 –4
deconstructing 32
in everyday life 5 , 182
inside 39
Joyce on 18
making 30 –3
in sabi 16 –17 , 126 , 178
seeing, in imperfections 98 –9
in simplicity 10 , 15
on the surface 32 –3
and transience 18
wabi sabi as deeply human response to 21
wabi sabi as intuitive response to 119
beauty in simplicity, and wabi sabi 10 , 15 (see also beauty; wabi sabi )
beauty of ageing 179 –81
belonging, helping others in 135 –8
birth of wabi sabi 17 –18 (see also wabi sabi )
‘Black Ships’ 156
Blue Moon 137
the Bodleian Japanese Library, Oxford 81
bonsai 65 , 76
The Book of Tea (Okakura) 12 –13
Buddhism (see also Zen Buddhism):
marks of existence within 18
and Shugendō 73
significant influence of 11
bushidō 160
C
calm rules 139 –42
and calm communication 141
and more than words 142
career:
asking children about 166
beneath surface of 153 –6
mono no aware 154
sabi 155 –6
wabi 155
yūgen 154
and change, being open to 163 –5
and contemporary Japan, life in 156 –9
and dōjō, lessons from 160 –2
excellence over perfection 161 –2
journey, see Chapter 7
and openness to change 163 –5
and questions that prompt inspired answers 166 –7
scenarios, main 159
and setting own pace 162 –3
and vicious cycle, illustrated 151
and virtuous cycle 149 –52
illustrated 152
and wabi-sabi -inspired tools 152
and waking dream 167 –8
and walking own path 159 –60
Centre for Environment Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University 75
chadō 159
change:
being open to 163 –5
and long view, questions for looking at 165
as part of life 86 –8
Chiba University, Centre for Environment Health and Field Sciences at 75
chikuwa (fish sticks) 187
Chōjirō 14
chokuyaku 85
clutter 29 –30 , 54
of finances, undoing (decluttering) 188 –90
tips concerning 43 –5
conch trumpets 73
country life, rhythms of xviii
cram schools (juku ) 110
crawling-in entrance (nijiri-guchi ) 130
creative confidence, ways to build 122
D
daymyō , domains established by 11
decluttering finances 188 –90
deconstructing Japanese beauty 32 (see also beauty)
defining wabi sabi 4 –5 (see also wabi sabi )
Demetriou, Danielle 139 –40
Dewa Sanzan 72
different interpretations of wabi sabi 17 (see also wabi sabi )
discovering wabi sabi 2 (see also wabi sabi )
Disrupting Japan podcast 111
Doi, Takeo 76
dōjō, lessons from 160 –2
Durham University 107 , 197
dynamic transience 86
E
Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 123
English Channel, Igarashi’s swim across 113 –15
enigma of wabi sabi 2 (see also wabi sabi )
European Jōdō Championships 161 –2
excellence over perfection 161 (see also career)
expansion, practising 113
F
failure:
creative, overcoming fear of 118
Japanese attitude to 110 –12
learning from, stress-free steps to 118
reframing (see also Chapter 5 ):
but not learning to love 111
and fear, as indicator 119
and reframing success 111
try it 127 (see also main entry: try it)
wabi-sabi -inspired wisdom for 126 (see also wabi sabi : wisdom of)
resilience built by 112
resistance to possibility of 116 –17
Romero on 111
stress-free steps to learning from 118
‘Fall down seven times, get up eight’ (proverb) 107
FIFA World Cup (2002) xvii , 141
finances:
decluttering 188 –90
soulful simplicity in 186 –90
taking fresh look at 155
finding joy in small things 182
fire festival (Hi-Matsuri ) 71
five ways to build creative confidence 122
Flett, Duncan 179
flower arranging (ikebana ) 135
flower–bird–wind–moon (kachō fūgetsu ) 76
fog linen work 42
forest bathing/therapy (shinrin-yoku ) 73 –8
top tips for 78 –9
Forest Therapy Guides 75
Fuji, Mount 80
furoshiki 168
fushime (node on bamboo shoot) 181
future, allowing 102 –3
G
Galvani, Luigi 18
garden path (roji ) 131
generosity of spirit 133 –5
Genshitsu, Sen 162 –3
Gin-san and Kin-san (identical twins) 176
Global Peace Index 139
Gordon, Elizabeth 38
Great East Japan Earthquake 31 , 159
Gungendō 158
H
Haguro, Mount 72 –3
haiku poetic form 16 , 64 , 140
moment reflecting (haiku moment) 172 –4
Hamana 129 –30
hara hachi bu 177
Hastings, Makiko 30 –1 , 45 , 161
Hearn, Lafcadio 55
Heian period 65 , 176
helping others to belong 135 –8
Hi-Matsuri (fire festival) 71
Hida-Takayama 97
Hideyoshi, Toyotomi 13
Hikari no Yakata (House of
Light) 122 –6
Hina-Matsuri Girls’ Day 176
Hirabayashi, Akito 174
Hokusai 65 , 80
home:
cluttered nature of 29 –30 , 54
tips concerning 43 –5
genkan part of 40 , 53
and sharing space 55 –7
and soulful simplicity 28 –9
wabi-sabi-inspired 29
ten principles for 53 –5
as your own space 28 –9 , 39 –41 (see also themes to inspire)
horagai conch trumpets 73
Hoshino, Master 73
hospitality inspired by wabi sabi 56 (see also wabi sabi )
hot spring, lessons from 142 –5
House Beautiful 38
House of Light (Hikari no Yakata) 122 –6
I
‘I humbly accept’ mantra (uketamō) 73
Igarashi, Ken 113 –15
ikebana (flower arranging) 135
immune system 74
‘imperfect’, meaning of 93 –5
imperfections:
own, revealing 95 –6
seeing beauty in 98 –9
impermanence of awe 81
impermanence of wabi sabi 175 (see also wabi sabi )
inspired answers, questions that prompt 166 –7
inspiring themes 41 –55
detail 52 –3
flexibility 48 –51
nature 51 –2
simplicity 42 –5
and decluttering tips 43 –5
space 45 –7
making, one room at a time 46 –7
Ishii, Daigo 123
Iwaki, Toshinao 179
Iwami-Ginzan 157
iyaku 85
Izumi 129
J
Japan (see also Kyōto; Tōkyō; other places by name):
business code words in 160
contemporary, life in 156 –9
and slow revolution 157 –9
eastern earthquake in (2011) 31 , 159
festivals celebrated throughout 71 –2
and fondness for nature 76
form is everything in 161
in Global Peace Index 139
Heian period in 65 , 176
isolationist policy in 156
late medieval, and war 11
and layering of language and culture 20
life expectancy in 174 –5
and love of nature 63 –4 (see also nature)
massive earthquake in 31
Meiji Restoration in 80
mountainous nature of 27
Nagoya in 157 , 176
and nature:
destruction of 80
fondness for 76
note about language of 19 –20
Okayama in 182
Ōmori-cho in 157 –8
popular names in 66
post-WWII 156
Rinzai school founded in 12
sakoku isolationist policy in 156
Shimane Prefecture in 157
and slow revolution 157 –9
small-space agriculture in 27
and translation 85
urban growth in 11 , 27
Westernisation in 156
World Cup co-hosted by 141
Yayoi period in 48
jazz café 137
johakyu (speeds of action) 162
Jōō, Takeno 13
Joyce, James 18
jūdō 160
juku (cram schools) 110
K
K, Mr 132
Kabariti, Sara 160 , 161 –2
kachō fūgetsu (flower–bird–wind–moon) 76
kakeibo (journals for household accounts) 186 , 187
Tōkamachi 122
kami 71 , 72
Kanbayashi Onsen hot spring 143
Kanie, Mineyo 102 , 176 –7
kanji 28 , 107 , 159 –60
Kansai International Airport 108
Kansai, Takako 186
karatedō 160
karesansui 11
katana-kake (sword rack) 11
Kawakami, Rev. Takafumi 133 , 134 , 180
Kerr, Alex 171 –2
Kin-san and Gin-san (identical twins) 176
Kishin Kitchen 179
kissaten (coffee shop) 187
Kōjien 9 , 63
Kondō, Marie 27 , 43
Korea, World Cup co-hosted by 141
koshihikari 118
kū (emptiness/no self) 133
kūki o yomu (‘to read the air’) 139
Kurama 71
kuromoji-cha (spicewood tea) 80
Tōkyō:
calm, efficient rhythm of 139 –40
energy of 157
Kyōto:
Anraku-ji Temple in 135
changes to 86
Nishijin textile district in 120
Philosopher’s Path in 134 , 193
rhythm of 140
Ryōan-ji Temple in 90 , 102
Shunkō-in Temple in 133 , 180
temples and shrines in, numbers of 140
Kyōto Institute of Culture and Language 197
L
Lake Baikal 115
lessons from dōjō 160 –2
and excellence over perfection 161 –2
lessons from hot spring 142 –5
lessons from tea room 130 –2
jaku (tranquillity) 131
kei (respect) 131
sei (purity) 131
wa (harmony) 130
life expectancy 174 –5
life lessons inspired by wabi sabi 18 –19 (see also wabi sabi )
loneliness, study into 136
longevity, pondering 177 –8
Lost Japan (Kerr) 171
M
Manchester Metropolitan University 136
Matsuba, Daikichi 157 , 159
Matsuba, Ōmorichō 157
Matsuba, Tomi 157 –9
Matsukawa 174 –5
Matsuyama, Ai 133 –4
Matsuzaki, Dr Teruaki 45
meaning of ‘imperfect’ 93 –5
meaning of ‘perfect’ 91 –3
Meiji Restoration 80
merchant class, rise of 11
michi (path/road) 159
Minamisanriku, earthquake’s effects on 31
Ming Dynasty, China flourishes under 10
Miura, Kyōji 120 –1
Miyazaki, Hayao 80 –1
Miyazaki, Prof. Yoshifumi 75 –6
Muji 27
mujō (impermanence) 180
Murasaki Shikibu 65
Murata Shukō 12 , 203
Myōan Eisai 12
Myōshin-ji Temple 129
N
Nagashima, Hiroshi 111
Nagata, Ayumi 175
Nagoya 157 , 176
nana korobi, ya oki (‘Fall down seven times, get up eight’) 107
natural rhythm 70 –9
and kami , way of 72
and lessons from fire festival 71
and lessons from forest 73 –5
and lessons from Yamabushi 72 –3
tuning into 70 –9
and way of the kami 71
nature:
connection of, to deepest part of wabi sabi philosophy 51
influence of, on literature, art, culture 64 –6
Japanese love of 63 –4
in language 66 –7
living with 61 –82
and fire festival, lessons from 71
and impermanence of awe 81
and lessons from forest 73 –5
and lessons from Yamabushi 72 –3
and natural wellness 76 –8
wisdom of, wabi-sabz-inspired 81 –2
materials of, for home 51
and nurturing harmonious relationships 80 –1
questions to help you tune into 69 –70
and seasons 67 –9
and wabi sabi connection 68
and your natural rhythm 70
NHK 115
Nihonjin no kokoro, tsutaemasu (Genshitsu) 162
Niigata 122
nijiri-guchi (crawling-in entrance) 130
Nishijin
textile district 120
NTC’s Dictionary of Japan’s Business Code Words 160
NTV College for TV Presenting 133 –4
O
Okakura Kakuzo 12 –13
Okōsan 186 –7
Okayama 182
Ōmori-chō 157 –8
Ono, Dr Sokyo 72
Ostaseski, Frank 100
own longevity, pondering 177 –8
P
paper screens (yukimi shōji) 118
past, accepting 88
‘perfect’:
meaning of 91 –3
real kind of 172 –3
perfection:
excellence over 161 (see also career)
letting go of 5 , 100 –1
of moments, planning for 183 –6
brain dump 183 –4
new way of planning 185 –6
possibilities 184
prioritising 184 –5
realignment 185
shift 184 –5
use of, to stop us embracing life 93
perfectly imperfect planning 182 –6
and more perfect moments 183 –6
brain dump 183 –4
new way of planning 185 –6
possibilities 184
prioritising 184 –5
realignment 185
shift 184 –5
perils of pursuit 112 –13 (see also pursuit)
Perry, Commodore Matthew 156
Philosopher’s Path, Kyotō 135 , 194
phytoncides 74
The Pillow Book (Sei) 65
planning, perfectly imperfect 182 –6
and more perfect moments 183 –6
pondering own longevity 177 –8
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (Joyce) 18
pottery, making of 30 –1
practising acceptance 104 –5 (see also acceptance)
practising expansion 113 –15
present, accepting 89 –90
pursuit:
of inspiring dreams 113
of perfection 95 , 99 , 103
perils of 112 –13
PwC 167
Q
questions and inspired answers 166 –7
R
reason for wabi sabi 3 (see also wabi sabi )
relationships:
nurturing 80 –1 (see also Chapter 6 )
and calm communication 141
and calm rules 139 –42
face to face 139
and generosity of spirit 133 –5
and going easy on those we love 132 –3
and helping others belong 135 –8
and lessons from tea room 130 –2
and more than words 142
wabi sabi wisdom for 146 (see also wabi sabi : wisdom of
resilience:
failure builds 112
ten ways to nurture 115 –16
rhythm:
natural, tuning into 70 –9
of seasons 67 (see also seasons)
Rikyū, Sen no 13 –14 , 50 , 61
roji (garden path) 131
role models, choosing, carefully 98
Romero, Tim 111
Ryōan-ji 90 , 102
S
sabi , see under wabi sabi
sadō 159
Sakae, Setsuko 17
Sakamoto, Grandmother 67
sakoku isolationist policy 156
samurai :
feudal lords install 11