4 Junk-free Japanese minimalist apartments

Today, in Fumio Sasaki’s apartment, there are about 200 objects. Before, it was not even possible to walk there due to the large amount of junk and unnecessary things accumulated. He always put off tidying up, complained about lack of money, and couldn’t find enough time or energy to devote to his hobbies. Everything suddenly changed when he discovered the minimalist way of life.

In general, traditional Japanese culture strives for simplicity: Zen Buddhism, which follows purity of consciousness, black-and-white calligraphy, and haiku poems. For this reason, many famous minimalists are Japanese. They reject the modern culture of unbridled consumption, having only the necessary things. This simplified lifestyle is gaining popularity in the West. For example, Marie Kondo’s method of organization, based on eliminating all the frets, is now actively adopted by people in Europe and the United States.

At the awesome.clubwe are inspired by this Japanese culture and the story of Fumio Sasaki and share with you amazing photos of Japanese minimalist interiors.

Now, in Sasaki’s closet, there are 3 shirts, 4 pairs of socks, 2 jackets, and a few more garments. In the bathroom, we see a razor, scissors, a bottle of liquid soap with which he washes his face, hair and even the dishes. But before it was like this:

Her apartment was full of stuff. The shelves weren’t big enough for all the books he hadn’t even begun to read, because many of them were piled on the floor. A large amount of space was taken up by his collection of CDs and DVDs. In the closet were items of clothing that he considered his “favorites” but had actually worn once or twice. In a corner were his guitar and amplifiers, but Sasaki devoted little time to this passion.

Every night, Sasaki would sit in front of the television and drink beer. He would wake up late and go to work, hating his existence. He constantly compared himself with others and did not find the strength to try to change his life. Desperate, he broke up with his fiancée, saying he couldn’t support her, and then bought lottery tickets, naively hoping to win some good money.

Everything changed when Sasaki found texts about minimalism on the Internet. He realized that he was tormented by the mess, but he couldn’t find the strength to put everything in order, because there were too many things to tidy up, which would require a lot of energy.

It took a year to rid his house of everything he considered unnecessary. Some things he gave away to friends, he took his collection of records and books to a used bookstore. He scanned paper photos and letters and stored them in a convenient digital format.

Your apartment is only 20 square meters, but it looks much more spacious. One of his friends estimated that he was left with only 150 objects, although Sasaki now admits to having a few more.

Next to the space, Sasaki’s consciousness was released. He discovered physical activity: in his free time he likes to go hiking in the mountains. Sasaki believes that with so many things, people forget that they can and should go outside more often.

Today he prefers to spend his time and money on travel, quality food, meeting friends and personal development. Having so many things doesn’t matter anymore, he gets along very well with the least. It doesn’t take long to choose the clothes he’s going to wear in the morning, he doesn’t waste time looking for a special shampoo in the supermarket. And it only takes 2 minutes to clean the floor.

Sasaki works as an editor for a magazine. he wrote the book Goodbye, things 🇧🇷Goodbye Things), which became a bestseller. He is also the author of a blog on minimalism, in Japanese.

More and more Japanese people are becoming radical minimalists. In the sequence, you will see photos of “clean” and well-groomed apartments, where there is nothing more than necessary.

This is the apartment of minimalist Katsuya Toyoda, who also works as a copywriter. He only has a table, a closet and a futon (Japanese mattress), which he puts on the floor and, after waking up, folds it and puts it in the closet.

In the kitchen and bathroom there is nothing more than the essentials. Toyoda’s wardrobe is also minimalist. There is an opinion that the Japanese like minimalism because of the simple style of dressing Steve Jobs. Other people believe that, on the contrary, Japanese minimalism influenced Western culture.

Writer Naoki Numahata perfectly combines the minimalist lifestyle with raising his daughter.

He believes that it is important in Japanese culture to leave empty spaces. In tea ceremonies, for example, there is nothing more than the tatami floor, everything else must be completed by one’s imagination.

Minimalist Saeko Kushibiki also got rid of unnecessary stuff. In her modest cupboard, she has just enough, and in the kitchen, only the plates and cutlery a person needs.

Kushibiki doesn’t even need chairs, and a futon is enough for sleeping, which she keeps in the closet when she wakes up.

And you, do you like minimalism? Or are you comfortable in the middle of a creative mess?