Why do people feel at ease with Japanese things?
Why do people feel at ease with Japanese things?
The feel of a teacup you pick up, the smell of tatami mats, the soft light shining through a shoji screen. None of these things should be special, but for some reason, they instantly relax our hearts. When we come into contact with Japanese objects, we naturally feel a sense of "comfort." This is not just a feeling of nostalgia or homesickness, but perhaps they affect our senses and memories at a deeper level.
In this article, I would like to explore the question, "Why do people feel reassured by Japanese things?" from three perspectives: sensation, memory, and time.
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1. Awakening the senses: "Quietness" and "Space"
One of the common characteristics of Japanese things is "tranquility" and "white space." For example, the tranquil atmosphere you feel when you step into a Japanese-style room. The soft light and shadow created by the shoji and fusuma screens. The luster of lacquerware and the feel of washi paper. All of these gently appeal to the five senses - sight, touch, and hearing - and soothe our nerves.
Modern society is filled with information and stimulation. Smartphone notification sounds, neon lights, and a constant stream of news. In such an everyday world, the "quietness" of Japanese objects acts like a deep breath. They say nothing, they simply exist. Yet they certainly work on our inner selves and calm our minds.
Japanese design also has a lot of "white space." As seen in calligraphy, ink painting, and garden compositions, it is a culture in which blank spaces and spaces are valued as beautiful. This "white space" draws out the viewer's imagination and gives the mind space to relax. It is not packed in, it is not overstated. Perhaps it is this modest appearance that gives us a sense of security.
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2. The rhythm of life etched in memory
The sense of security that Japanese things bring is also deeply connected to our memories. For example, the low tables and braziers we saw at our grandparents' homes, and the shimenawa and kagami mochi decorations used at New Year's. These scenes are linked to childhood memories, as well as time spent with family and seasonal events.
Japanese things are not simply "things," but contain the "rhythm of life." The custom of changing the furnishings with the seasons, the wisdom of using different tableware and fabrics for different occasions... Through these repetitions, we have come into contact with "things that never change" and have found comfort in them.
Especially in today's age of rapid change and high uncertainty, the presence of "things that never change" is a source of comfort. Japanese things remind us of such "unchanging time" and "scenes from memory."
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3. Relationships that develop over time
Japanese items have the characteristic of deepening in flavor over time. For example, wooden utensils become more comfortable to the touch the more they are used, and fabric becomes softer with each wash. The luster of lacquerware also develops with continued use.
This sense of "nurturing" stands in stark contrast to modern mass consumption society. Things are not something that can be obtained quickly and then quickly discarded, but rather something that takes time to build a relationship with. Japanese things remind us of the "relationship with things."
There is also a culture of "repairing while using" Japanese things. As exemplified by kintsugi, this is the attitude of repairing broken things and accepting them as beautiful. This is a value that applies not only to objects, but also to our relationships with people and our own way of being. It doesn't have to be perfect. Even if there are scratches, there is a story behind them. These values give us a deep sense of security.
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Conclusion: Security is a sense of connection
The sense of security we feel when we come into contact with Japanese objects goes beyond simple nostalgia or beauty. It is a sense of tranquility that is enveloped through the five senses, the joy of being reunited with a landscape from memory, and the richness that comes from building a relationship with an object over time.
In other words, the sense of security that Japanese things bring may be a sense of connection. Connection with nature, connection with the seasons, connection with family and community, and connection with ourselves. These invisible threads are gently tied together in our hearts through Japanese things.
In the midst of our busy days, if we happen to come into contact with something Japanese, we may find a form of "peace of mind" that we had almost forgotten quietly living within it.