You'll be familiar, I'm sure with the recent trend for gimmicky, more-style-than-substance books on concepts from other cultures. At first glance Mari Fujimoto's Ikigai and other Japanese words to live by* might seem to be part of that group, but in fact it's much more considered, reflective, informative and useful.
Granted, it's a short book and it aligns itself with modish mindfulness and paying attention to the here and now, but there's more to it than a bitesize, buzzword-based borrowing designed to simplify Japanese philosophy for a western audience.
Mari Fujimoto is Director of Japanese Studies at Queens College, City University of New York, but her early life was spent in Japan and the beliefs and traditions of Shinto, "the indigenous spirituality of the Japanese people" were highly influential. Informed by animism, a profound respect for nature, a view of beauty which accepts and celebrates its inherent transience and imperfection, the cultural wisdom of the country incorporates concepts as valuable to all of us as they are novel to many, and here they are presented via brief definitions of over forty words, each one embodying a way of looking at life which can enrich and sustain.
The book is illustrated by atmospheric black and white photographs by Michael Kenna, images of simplicity and stillness which complement the text perfectly. What I found less compelling were the so-called 'essay pieces' by David Buchler, vignettes which preface each of the seven sections; while they sit alongside haikus by the poet Matsuo Bashō, other readers may better appreciate them as "a frame for the words that follow".
Those words themselves are grouped under headings such as 'harmony', 'gratitude', 'time' and 'respect', and range from shibui - beauty enriched by the passing of time, enryo - thoughtful hesitation, to kotodama - spiritual greeting, and zazen - a form of healing meditation "to refresh your sense of purpose, restoring the potential simplicity of existence". Altogether, and especially if read slowly and absorbed before moving on, they serve to bring our awareness to ourselves as part of a greater whole, and provide guidance, perhaps, for a more balanced way of being within that bigger picture.
*From which there's an extract here.
