15 Things the Japanese can teach you about a balanced life

Japanese fans made headlines during the World Cup in Russia this summer, when they stayed to clean the stadiums after each team’s match. Heartbroken after losing to Belgium, they tried to confront their disappointment in a different way, collecting rubbish at the Rostov Arena where the game was played. However, it is not the first time that they surprise us. They always show the rest of the world how important it is for everyone to keep a clean space. But this is not the only lesson the Japanese can teach us, and we still have a lot to learn about this incredible culture.

At Incrível.club we have carefully studied 15 principles that Japanese people take into account and how they influence their lives.

The Japanese do everything in an orderly way. You will never see people pushing or bumping into each other in stores, on the transportation system or in other public places. Even if the train station is full, there will be no chaos: everyone will form a line and wait respecting each other’s personal space.

Japan has one of the most sophisticated waste disposal systems in the world. It all starts with garbage sorting at home, which is not as simple as it sounds. The classification guide for the city of Niihama, for example, has 42 pages that describe in detail how each type of waste should be treated. Pictured: Japan national football fans cleaning a stadium after a game.

It is also a common practice for the Japanese to gather friends or acquaintances to collect the garbage together.

The Japanese concept Wa (which literally means “harmony”) refers to the search for order in all things, of interpersonal communication available to the elements. The Japanese art of ikebana and traditional poetry, tanka and hokku, for example, is based on the principles of harmony in floral arrangement and rhythm. The Japanese believe that order in objects and the organization of space bring harmony to a person’s mind and soul. In the image, the women carefully check the alignment of the cups.

The Japanese are probably the ones who best give us an example of being highly responsible at work🇧🇷 In order to increase the safety of passengers and staff, the railway company Japan Railways introduced the so-called “sign and call” system, also known as Shisa Kanko. It is based on associating each task with a physical movement and vocalization to avoid errors.

Sometimes we do things mechanically, and Shisa Kanko increases our awareness of pointing at objects and saying out loud what we are doing. You can also use this efficient system in your everyday life.🇧🇷 If, for example, you tend to forget whether or not you turned off the iron before leaving the house, just look at the object, point at it and say aloud: “I turned off the iron”. By doing this, the rest of the day you’ll be completely sure of what you’ve done.

In Japan, having fun is just as important as working🇧🇷 Besides, who can be bored in a country where karaoke and cosplay came into being? Karaoke, in particular, is one of the most popular ways to get rid of stress after a long day at work. In the image you can see several young women participating in a cosplay event by Sailor Moon.

Japanese culture is based on courtesy and there are countless ways to be polite, from table manners and gestures to the use of certain words when approaching people. The concept of courtesy itself (teinei in Japanese) is very common, and often associated with respect, which implies bowing down and putting others first, especially when it comes to seniors, teachers, bosses, guests, or customers. In the image you can see how employees welcome the first customers in a store.

Almost everything you do in Japan becomes a little ritual. Would you like a cup of green tea? Well, you can have it accompanied by traditional sweets called wagashi. They come in a variety of styles and shapes, and are so fine and meticulously made that each one looks a masterpiece.

Some of the types of wagashi are popular throughout the year, while others vary with the different seasons. Its basic ingredient is adzuki bean paste, which is often used as a filling.

The Kaizen principle tells us that any task, no matter how difficult or complicated it may be, can be accomplished in small steps. In terms of practicality, this means that if you spend at least a minute every day doing what you want, you will be successful. If you want to improve your language skills, spend a minute (or more if you can) to learn every day and you will see that it will improve over time. The secret of this principle lies in the systematic nature that makes a minute of daily activity far more effective than several hours of practice once a week.

Japan can teach the whole world how to make the most of every resource, especially when it comes to the efficient use of limited space. Is there no land for building houses in the city? No problem! In that country, you can see among the existing buildings small humble houses. And although they are not big, they have everything you need for a comfortable life.

The Japanese Wabi-Sabi philosophy teaches us to see beauty in everything, even flaws. A brilliant example of this principle is the Kintsugi art, which consists of repairing broken pottery in a special way. The shellac used to secure the pieces is mixed with gold, silver or platinum powder to highlight the cracks rather than hiding them. not a good lesson value what we have in the modern world, who always strives for perfection?

Japan was the first country where cat cafes, or Neko Cafés, appeared, which are extremely popular today. Small spaces, strict rental agreements and busy lifestyles prevent Japanese people from having pets at home. These cat cafes are a good way to take care of the street cats and receive that energy pleasant that animals give to people.

While keeping cats in such cafes remains a controversial issue, any practice that aims to save the animals’ lives has to be a good thing. These places are found in different cities around the world and welcome people who want to adopt cats to make them part of their family. In the photo you can see such a cafe in Kurashiki, Okayama.

The world of robotics can encompass all kinds of gadgets that make modern life so much easier Its confortable. The most unusual accessories include glasses with cones for dripping eye drops, a mask to apply lipstick perfectly and a full-length umbrella. In the image you can see Pepper, a human robot who works as an assistant in some Japanese stores.

According to statistics, Japan leads the world in life expectancy. A healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet help its inhabitants to live much longer. The main ingredients of Japanese foods are fresh seafood, vegetables, seaweed and rice.

Japan celebrates the annual Day of Respect for the Elderly in September, but Caring for the elderly is part of their daily lives. This beautiful gesture is made both in the family, where older children take care of their parents, and in special institutions. In the image you can see a train station worker accompanying a lady.

Hanami, literally “flower viewing”, is the traditional act of enjoying cherry blossoms. This is a festival that attracts millions of people from all over Japan and abroad, and makes them travel from city to city to admire this flower. Hanami is a relaxing tradition and has a certain philosophy behind it. These flowers live for a short time, which makes us relate them to the nature of life and death, and helps us appreciate the present moment.

Which of these lessons did you find most interesting? Would you like to start following one of these principles? Share your opinion with us in the comments section!