Japan is a unique country, likely most of us has never visited. You may consider Japan as home of lovely buildings, macaque monkeys (who like to throw snowballs in hot springs) , but what else do we know about this most unusual of countries?
In fact, it’s home to some of the healthiest people on earth, who regularly live to over 100 with no ill health until end-of-life.
Japan is mostly islands, with only a few urban areas, one of which is Tokyo. But all cities are better at protecting the planet than here, with hardly any litter (like Switzerland).
One town has 45 separate categories, so consider that if you find it a chore to separate stuff into three bins! And the streets are so clean, it’s common practice for dog-walkers to not just pick up the poop, but carry a little bottle of water to rinse the pavement afterwards!
Shinto, the indigenous faith of Japan, places great respect on nature. In this belief system, nature isn’t a resource to be used but an entity to be honoured. From immense mountains to the smallest streams, everything is home to spirits known as kami.
This reverence fosters an intrinsic respect for the environment, urging us to tread lightly and live harmoniously with nature.
The concept of Wabi-Sabi celebrates the beauty of imperfection. It teaches us to find joy in life’s transience and simplicity. Picture an old tree with gnarled branches—it embodies strength yet vulnerability. In cities, embracing Wabi-Sabi can mean valuing the imperfect little green patches amidst the concrete jungle.
Japanese Architecture and Nature
Imagine a Zen garden, where simplicity meets mindfulness. These gardens are a physical representation of calm, designed to emulate natural landscapes on a miniature scale. Sand raked into patterns represents waves or clouds, while stones suggest mountains. A place to reflect, a Zen garden can bring peace and balance to chaotic city life.
Engawa is the clever design feature that subtly ties indoor and outdoor spaces together. It’s a narrow strip of flooring, often wood, that borders the outer edge of a building. Whether you’re enjoying a cup of tea or a book, sitting on the engawa allows you to feel part of nature, even in an urban setting.
Whether people eat fish or soy, there are little markets for ready-meals, with most people eating heaps of vegetables and noodles, the only downside being a strong work culture, that goes too far the other way (many workers are exhausted). Yet top managers all have to spend a day a year on the factory floor, to be aware of how all employees experience working life.
The other caveat that needs to be addressed is that despite being fairly litter-free themselves, the country exports a good portion of the world’s packaging elsewhere. And locals tend to be hygiene-obsessed, so maybe sometimes go a bit overboard on packaging themselves
. But overall Japanese people respect their natural world better than us. You won’t find streets filled with sweet wrappers, fast food packaging or cigarette butts in Japan!
Animal welfare in Japan is a hot topic right now, after a horse died during a 680-year old Shinto festival. The charity has a long history, beginning after World War II when the founders began to raise money to help emaciated and dying dogs and horses.
Appreciating Our Cherry Blossom (like Japan!)
In Japan, the annual cherry blossom season from the end of March to the end of May is celebrated by everyone, with locals gathering to stop and stare at over 1 million cherry trees for a stunning seasonal spectacle of blooms.
‘Cherry’ Ingram is the Englishman credited with saving cherry blossoms in Japan, after he began to send rare varieties from his own garden to Japan, with help of a network of ‘cherry guardians’.
Cherry blossom trees contain natural cyanide, so keep away from pets, horses & livestock. Read more on toxic plants & trees to avoid near animal friends.
Cherry trees produce stone fruits as well as blossom. Related to plum & peach trees, the flowers produce spectacular blooms that are noted the world over.
When they bloom in England depends on the weather and location, but usually you can find them in full flower in many of the London royal parks, alongside other locations throughout England. With climate change, some trees are now blooming as early as February.
