Extreme minimalism of the Japanese (10 photos)

Japan is practically the birthplace of minimalism, even the Scandinavians are far from them. But sometimes the Japanese take this trend to almost extreme formats. You begin to doubt, is this life?





Minimalism fits very well with Japanese culture, with its understanding of Zen, the desire not to cling too much to the worldly.



Why a cup for brushes at all? The edge of the window can serve as a place for drying

Moreover, in Japanese apartments there is always a big problem with free space. There is nowhere to put boxes of things, you can’t afford a large selection of clothes, there will simply be nowhere to put them.





This is how children are taught to live - a simple table, just two iron mugs.

Therefore, from childhood, the Japanese teach themselves to use only the most necessary things. If a Japanese person lives alone, then he may well have one cup and plate. And maybe a Totoro-shaped salt shaker. But this is already sybaritism and self-indulgence.



A deep bachelor's locker on watch doesn't look as sad as this one

It is sometimes difficult for a thrifty person to come to terms with this. What if you poured iced tea and then decided to drink coffee without finishing your tea?

The average person will simply take another cup and then return to their tea. A minimalist Japanese will say that you want too much, you are spoiling yourself. Sit and drink tea.



Why a chair? It's common for us to sit on the floor

This level of asceticism sometimes borders almost on self-torture, when a person does not allow himself alternatives to life’s small pleasures.

Earthquakes taught them to live this way



The table doesn't even fit two plates

They say that the Japanese were accustomed to such a life by frequent tsunamis and earthquakes. So that a lot of things dear to the heart are not stored in the house, otherwise, God forbid, when a disaster begins, the Japanese will not run out into the street, but will rush to collect belongings.



It’s bright and clean, but I see little point in mattresses on the floor

In the end, those who managed to run out and who had nothing to store and protect will survive. A bizarre natural selection that has preserved the largest percentage of minimalist lovers among representatives of one nation.



Minimalism for yourself, mansions for the cat. And everything is in gray, white, soft colors

Today, the Japanese contrast their minimalism with Western consumer society. Quite funny, because Japan sells thousands of very strange products, including covers for door handles (!).



The Emperor receives the Arab Ambassador in a room with literally nothing but a vase.

- In the West, making space whole means filling it. But in a tea ceremony, space should be left free to allow a person's imagination to fill it, say Japanese designers.



But the floors are always clean, because you see every speck of dust like a paranoid person

Could you live like in the photographs from Japanese apartments? I wouldn't. It’s better, like a hobbit, to leave behind a bunch of cute things as souvenirs for your relatives. Let them enjoy it for their health.