While it might be hard to imagine today, most people owned perhaps two or three kimonos, always kept fresh and clean, as their entire wardrobe. “Foreigners who came to Japan before our industrialization were shocked. Japanese author, Fumio Sasaki, wrote in his book Goodbye Things However, the minimalist mindset is in the DNA of the Japanese, especially before industrialization. Like any nation, many people in Japan live conventionally, routinely influenced by materialism with lots of belongings and possessions. There’s a misconception that most Japanese people are minimalists, but this isn’t true. Read more: Scandinavian Minimalism: 5 Inspiring Lessons From Nordic Culture While I’ve never visited Japan (it’s at the top of my list), I’ve long been inspired by their efficient use of space, together with traditional customs that speak to the beauty of simplicity. It’s inspired by the aesthetic of Japan’s traditional Zen Buddhism and can be seen in many different facets of everyday life, from their architecture to fashion choices. Japanese minimalism is a concept that focuses on keeping life simple, clean, and uncluttered by living with just the essentials.

What is Japanese minimalism? (Including examples) In this article, I share what I’ve learned about Japanese minimalism and 5 lessons we can learn from it. Japanese minimalists have a unique approach to simplicity that can teach us how to live a more intentional lifestyle. Japanese minimalism has been gaining popularity in the West in recent years, and for good reason. If you’re looking for ways to declutter your life, you may want to look to Japan.

Fumio sasaki minimalism