Through my observations of daily life across various parts of Japan, I’ve unearthed a tapestry of philosophies that sculpt the Japanese approach to living. These insights, garnered not from the pages of books but from the rhythm of life itself, span the breadth of Japan’s rich cultural landscape. Here are thirteen philosophies that stand as testament to the depth and diversity of understanding I’ve gained.

  1. Seek and establish patterns in life and work; they can be easily reused in the future.
  2. Maintain both your reputation and your physical well-being.
  3. Perform simple tasks with great attention and care.
  4. Empower and support those around you.
  5. Loving what you do is not contingent upon doing what you love, but you need to find love in what you do.
  6. You don’t require the best of everything, but take care of what you have and maximise its potential.
  7. Stay connected with nature.
  8. When taking shortcuts is necessary, still opt for high-quality materials.
  9. Express gratitude towards those around you and make sure they know it.
  10. It’s acceptable to be small, as long as you are efficient.
  11. Don’t aspire to own expensive items; instead, aim for items of quality.
  12. Being fast and precise are both crucial; don’t compromise one for the other. Practice enables you to achieve both.
  13. Pay attention to building a strong foundation in both your career and life, as advancement is essentially building upon these foundations.