3 THINGS WE CAN LEARN FROM THE JAPANESE AESTHETIC "WABI-SABI"

U.I. PROLOGUE

Daily life bears witness to the countless aspects ingrained in what shapes Japan as a nation. Be around them every day and you uncover certain customs, traditions, and behaviors that leave you wondering how other cultures function without.

It hasn't been that long for me. There's so much still to understand. But I guess it's safe to say I've been assimilating to their ways better now. I just go, "Well, that's just how they are."

The funny thing is, more often than not, I catch myself doing what they do in moments I would've done otherwise. You won't believe the number of times I bow to people in a day. That's gonna be nearly impossible to unlearn when the time comes.

Among the many things I wouldn't want to unlearn, though, are the philosophies that reflect how I try to live my life. Mostly the ones that find their roots in Buddhism—which brings me to the heart of this newsletter.

Let's talk about wabi-sabi.

It is prevalent in many forms of Japanese art, although very subtle and hard to spot. Even I wasn't aware that that was drawing me to certain designs. No matter if it's on a piece of clothing, a pair of chopsticks, a postcard, or an artsy kitchen ceramic I adore—it's everywhere.

If you look close enough, you will see clearly—they do not appear to be perfect; something seems off; someone likely just put the broken pieces back together.

That, my friend, is where beauty lies.

And that is both an aesthetic and a worldview.

Wabi-sabi is a culture centered on appreciating the beauty of imperfection, impermanence, and simplicity.

U.I. CHAPTER I

LESSON 01: BEAUTY IN IMPERFECTION

Have you ever just stared at your old photographs, the chip on a random bowl in your home, or a messy artwork from your childhood lying around? They garner no attention but these details hold stories from long ago, hidden in plain sight.

If we only stop to rediscover what they are, we will understand these hold memories, importance, and depth in our lives. Our scars and flaws, every odd and unsymmetrical part of our body, hold elegance. They carry a history that makes us the unique human that we are.

But in the Instagram economy where the algorithm favors the upper extremities, we shame these pieces of history. We become harsh on ourselves, cursing our imperfections as we strive to capture the highlights of our days.

Look closer. Perfection is the culprit of anxiety. It is where fear and hesitance thrive. Imperfection, however, nurtures our past and shows the world how much we have lived.

U.I. CHAPTER II

LESSON 02: BEAUTY IN IMPERMANENCE

There is no season more timely than spring to talk about our favorite sakura's fleeting beauty. Cherry blossoms only ever bloom for more or less than a week before we have to wait for next year all over again. This illustrates just how special they are.

Spring also marks the season of both endings and new beginnings at work. Teachers retire and move on to other schools, new ones take over. Detachment is so apparent in my immediate environment that we are constantly urged to appreciate impermanence more.

My time here is temporary. It is only sensible not to be attached to the world around me. But that does not have to be a bad thing. It has taught me to savor a moment, an encounter, a conversation, a place, and a season for what it is as it happens.

The more you observe the vibrant cherry blossoms in full bloom, the more you anticipate their colors fading, and the more you bask in their beauty while they are there.

You get primed to live in the moment and then let go. Life has but a transient nature. Feel more, love deeper.

U.I. CHAPTER III

LESSON 03: BEAUTY IN SIMPLICITY

To me, all things humble, unassuming, and unadorned are exquisite.

Think 'quiet luxury' in fashion. Class exudes a person who does not work hard for it. Rid of loud brandings, pieces appear more elevated when they resemble rawness.

If we strip down our lives to expose the most basic elements, we realize how little we need to endure the everyday.

The more in tune we are with the natural patterns of the universe, the easier it is to feel content.

Minimalism showcases how simplicity elicits calmness. Yet within this, there is a sense of harmony and modesty. Humility blooms in simplicity—a virtue deemed rare these days.

U.I. EPILOGUE

Wabi-sabi is a philosophy and a lifestyle so unsophisticated and profound.

Open your eyes to the beauty within flaws, your heart to the transience of life, and your soul to the natural world.

Then you can thank me later.

Talk to you next week,

Jopaz 🤘