Dear Reader,

I don’t think people were born into this world to be productive. As in, all people are perfectly capable of growth, accomplishment, and productivity, but I don’t think that’s my (or anyone’s) life purpose.

And the moments where I am able to take a step back and recognize that, are the moments I feel the happiest and at peace.

In Japan, I think there are values of hard work and career growth as well as values of cultivating personal interest-- it often depends on who you're speaking to!

But something that I have come to appreciate and notice fondly is the acceptance and normalcy of Japanese hobbyism and the value in spending time on things that aren't necessarily "productive" but simply bring us joy.

Unlike in the US, in Japan there is less of a focus on individual exceptionalism. Individuals in Japan usually aren’t raised with the narrative that it’s important to be extraordinary, or to accomplish world-changing things. Instead, there is a stronger emphasis on doing your responsibility to contribute to the greater whole.

Setting aside the discussion of whether this is a good or bad thing, because there is less focus on exceptionalism, consequently, I think many Japanese people are more open to focusing on the joys of engaging in rather “unproductive” hobbies and a simple daily routine.

Ordinary Japanese adults often engage in hobbies, enough to have popularized the term ‘otaku’, a Japanese word established in 1983 that describes young adults with consuming interests, typically in gaming, anime, or pop culture. While it originally was used as a rather derogatory term to describe a nerd, it’s recently been reclaimed as a way to communicate a passion for a niche hobby.

People may describe themselves as a “soccer otaku”, “foreign film/tv otaku”, or “coffee otaku”-- something to describe a personal interest. In fact, hobbies are so prevalent in Japan that according to a 2013 online survey of about 138,000 Japanese adults, 62% of teenagers, 56% of adults in their 20s, and 46% of adults in their 30s self-identify as an “otaku”.

When you view yourself as a small part of a greater whole, ironically I find that it’s easier to focus on yourself and what brings you fulfillment, rather than feeling a pressure to do something extraordinary. Job and life are seen separately, and outside of a job– well, you can just engage in what you find fun.

Cooking and baking, hiking, visiting museums, reading, gardening, photography, fashion, karaoke, dancing, knitting, and painting– there are so many hobbies out there!

It can be a hard narrative to shake-- doing things for fun, rather than to be productive-- and one that I sometimes struggle with, but I find that gaining perspective on a broader context usually helps.

Reflecting on questions like:

• What is the purpose of life?
• What makes my life meaningful?
• What do I want to be reflecting on at the end of life?

This reflection often leads to a realization that our personal value is not tied to productivity or money (which are abstract concepts developed by humans). We usually discover answers like love, joy, personal passion, and connection with others.

Maybe it’s a stretch, but I think Japanese hobbyism is about leading a life that feels meaningful to us, not based on societal standards. It takes confidence and self-love to lead a life like that, but with compassion and patience, I think we can all get there.

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In what ways do you spend your time that brings you joy? Is being productive important to that feeling of joy, and if so, why do you think that is?

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Warmly,

Kaki
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A heartwarming message I recently received ❤️

"Hi Kaki!

I love this advice! As a newly diagnosed diabetic, I am finding that the social gatherings coming up scare me. I know there will be plenty of “no-no” foods there, and it is exhausting.

The only good news, is that my doctor said my sugar levels are doing better, and after implementing the balance you spoke about in your book, I see big changes!

For instance, I enjoyed a fried egg roll the other day and had steamed veggies on the side. For dessert I had a small piece of banana bread with sugar free whip cream. My blood sugar numbers still did well because of the pairing of veggies—and I included cleaning my rabbit cage as fitness for that day."

- Erica

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This was in response to the newsletter: A balanced approach to eating sugar during the holidays​

Read the book she's referring to: Wa: The Art of Balance​

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Thank you Erica, and to anyone who has emailed me positive messages! I've been receiving a lot these days, and would like to make a better effort to share them out (with permission of course) 😊 I think we can all use the encouragement, me included!

A health journey doesn't need to be scary, and I love to read how people's progress has been going.

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