Japanese Minimalism: A Vibe Check on Clutter - Deepstash
Japanese Minimalism: A Vibe Check on Clutter

Japanese Minimalism: A Vibe Check on Clutter

Curated from: aeon.co

Ideas, facts & insights covering these topics:

12 ideas

·

6.29K reads

26

6

Explore the World's Best Ideas

Join today and uncover 100+ curated journeys from 50+ topics. Unlock access to our mobile app with extensive features.

MATT ALT

The best clutter is a byproduct of taste and time, accrued and overlayed as a space is lived in and used

MATT ALT

42

869 reads

1. KonMari Got the World in a Chokehold

1. KonMari Got the World in a Chokehold

Marie Kondo didn’t just tell us to tidy up; she made us rethink our entire vibe. Her KonMari method says, “If it doesn’t spark joy, yeet it.”

But did you know her philosophy isn’t just about neat closets? It’s rooted in Japanese cultural beliefs like animism, where even inanimate objects are treated with respect.

45

701 reads

2. Western Minimalism: All About Aesthetic

2. Western Minimalism: All About Aesthetic

Western decluttering is all about flexing on Instagram: white walls, perfectly folded linens, and just enough plants for the #cottagecore feels. It’s a lot more about looking good than feeling connected.

Japanese minimalism? It’s on a deeper wavelength. It’s not about owning less but about loving what you own.

47

611 reads

3. Imagine Your Socks Have Feelings

3. Imagine Your Socks Have Feelings

In Japan, objects aren’t just “things.” They’ve got energy, almost like a soul. Tossing out a chair without gratitude feels like ghosting your bestie.

KonMari-style decluttering asks you to thank your stuff for its service, bringing some serious main-character energy to your everyday items.

47

580 reads

4. The Anti-Consumerism Glow-Up

4. The Anti-Consumerism Glow-Up

Western decluttering can feel like a loop:

trash stuff → buy more stuff → repeat.

Japanese minimalism, on the other hand, promotes buying intentionally.

Fewer things = more meaning.

The goal isn’t just clean spaces but contentment in life.

49

541 reads

MATT ALT

The ephemeral nature of fast fashion, big-box stores and online shopping means we don’t care about them as much

MATT ALT

41

481 reads

5. What If We All Vibed With Our Stuff?

5. What If We All Vibed With Our Stuff?

If everyone embraced animism, the world would shift. Instead of fast fashion and IKEA binges, we’d invest in pieces with soul.

Imagine fixing your phone instead of chucking it, or wearing sneakers that’ve been around since middle school.

Less waste, more love, and a planet that’s thriving.

47

472 reads

6. Sustainability Slays

6. Sustainability Slays

Treating things with care isn’t just spiritual—it’s sustainable. By cherishing what we have, we naturally reduce the churn of consumer culture.

Think: fewer landfills, less guilt, and some real dopamine hits when you mend instead of replace.

43

457 reads

7. Emotional Decluttering > Physical Decluttering

7. Emotional Decluttering > Physical Decluttering

Japanese minimalism shows us it’s not about a clean room—it’s about a clear mind.

Western trends might Marie Kondo your drawers, but Japanese philosophy Marie Kondos your soul.

Decluttering becomes an act of self-love, not just self-improvement.

46

426 reads

MATT ALT

If you couldn’t re-organise society, the thinking went, at least you could re-organise your closets.

MATT ALT

41

408 reads

8. Clutter With a Plot Twist

8. Clutter With a Plot Twist

Western minimalism paints clutter as evil, but Japanese thought sees it differently.

Clutter isn’t bad—it’s misunderstood.

It’s a chance to confront your habits and values. Your stuff isn’t just junk; it’s your life story.

44

382 reads

9. Final Boss: Conscious Living

9. Final Boss: Conscious Living

Japanese minimalism isn’t about less for the sake of less—it’s about more: more thought, more care, more life in what you have.

It challenges Western norms and offers a new, intentional way to exist.

➡ Is decluttering just another form of privilege in consumerist societies? Think on it fam! 

44

365 reads

IDEAS CURATED BY

yuyutsu

Content Curator | Absurdist | Amateur Gamer | Failed musician | Successful pessimist | Pianist |

CURATOR'S NOTE

The world sees Japan as a paragon of minimalism. But its hidden clutter culture shows that ‘more’ can be as magical as ‘less’.

Read & Learn

20x Faster

without
deepstash

with
deepstash

with

deepstash

Personalized microlearning

100+ Learning Journeys

Access to 200,000+ ideas

Access to the mobile app

Unlimited idea saving

Unlimited history

Unlimited listening to ideas

Downloading & offline access

Supercharge your mind with one idea per day

Enter your email and spend 1 minute every day to learn something new.

Email

I agree to receive email updates