When I first started writing about minimalism, I thought of clutter and overconsumption as primarily an American problem. However, from the emails and comments I received, I soon learned that many in the UK and Europe were struggling with similar issues.
Still, I considered it mainly an affliction of the Western world, and never imagined decluttering would have much relevance in the Far East (which has a long cultural heritage of simplicity and restraint).
However, according to an article by Michael Hoffman in The Japan Times Online, there’s a new trend sweeping Japan: danshari.
Kanjiclinic.com included the word in its “2010 New Words” list, and defined it as follows:
断捨離 Danshari – “de-clutter.” The three kanji in this compound mean “refuse – throw away – separate.” Self-help author Hideko Yamashita, drawing on yoga philosophy, promotes a three-step system for de-cluttering one’s life (both physical and mental) in Japan: 1) refuse to bring unnecessary new possessions into your life; 2) throw away existing clutter in your living space; and 3) separate from a desire for material possessions.… {Read more}