The now popular Japanese term translates to "reason for being", the purpose of your life. The Japanese believe that everyone has their own Ikigai and finding it is important to bring satisfaction and meaning to life. Ikigai adds value to your life and aligns with your passions as well as the needs of the world.
This is an ancient Japanese philosophy that means finding beauty amidst imperfections and accepting them. This encourages you to embrace your life as it is, and not give in to the impossible pressure of seeking perfection.
This Japanese phrase means “it cannot be helped” or “it is what it is”. This again encourages people to let go of things they can't control and move on in life.
This means continuous change or improvement for the better. This philosophy is implemented by the Japanese people in their personal and professional lives to improve efficiency and effectiveness in all aspects of life.
This means "never compare oneself to others". In a social media crazy world, especially, this term gains a special significance as we often try to compare our lives with those of others. The Japanese believe everyone grows and blossoms in their lives in their own way, taking their own time.
This Japanese term roughly translates to "too good to waste" and basically encourages us to be mindful of the resources we use and to waste as little as possible. Everything deserves respect and gratitude and resources should not be wasted.
This means the "art of golden repair" - mending broken pottery with gold or silver lacquer. This means turning something broken and imperfect into something beautiful. The concept encourages us to accept our flaws.
This term is all about seeing beauty in the unseen. It means “mysterious profundity”. Even if beauty doesn't exist in the literal sense of the word and cannot be seen directly, Yuugen is that beauty we sense into an object.
This means 'the pathos of things', as well as empathy toward things and ephemera - things that exist only a short time. The concept reminds us of the transience of life and the importance of appreciating the beauty that can be found in fleeting moments.
This term means "patience, perseverance, and tolerance" in Japanese. A Zen Buddhist teaching, it means to do one's best in distressed times and to maintain self-control and discipline.