Why is MUJI’s minimalist design called Zen?
The Japanese household brand MUJI is often dubbed “commercial Zen” for its no-frills, minimalist design and approach. But exactly what kind of Zen aesthetics are seen in MUJI? Two prominent designers Kenya...
The STARS Exhibition at Mori Art Museum – Takashi Murakami, Yayoi Kusama, Yoshitomo Nara and more
The STARS Exhibition at Mori Art Museum in 2020 featured Takashi Murakami, Yayoi Kusama, Yoshitomo Nara, Hiroshi Sugimoto and Tatsuo Miyajima....
21_21 DESIGN SIGHT designed by Tadao Ando
Architect Tadao Ando designed 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT in Tokyo, a design museum founded by designer Issey Miyake, who wants to make design an economic resource....
The Tokyo Toilet: 16 architects and designers re-imagine public restrooms
16 Japanese architects and designers re-imagine the potential of public restrooms (toilet) in parks. Shigeru Ban, Tadao Ando, Sou Fujimoto, Toyo Ito and more....
Buddhism 101: Is Dalai Lama’s school same as Zen?
You may know Dalai Lama and Zen, but are they the same Buddhism? Find what Tibetan Buddhism and its Japanese counterpart is about....
What is wabi-sabi in Japandi?: a practical guide for confused design lovers
Are you Googling “wabi-sabi” because you are interested in Japandi – the Japanese/Scandinavian design aesthetic hybrid? Are you confused because you haven’t found information/inspiration you are looking for?...
Model of House N designed by Sou Fujimoto
Experience the model of the "House N" designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto at the exhibition “The Window: A Journey of Art and Architecture through Windows.”. The multi-layered house ambiguously and...
Wabi-sabi 101: what does “Japanese aesthetics of imperfection” really mean?
Wabi-sabi is a traditional aesthetic concept that embraces imperfect and elusive nature as is, people say. But what does it really mean? What kind of situation will make you embrace negative qualities such as...
Japanese aesthetic term “iki” and Ukiyo-e (1)
粋 Iki is an important Japanese aesthetic term that bridges traditional values and modern ones. Look at the Ukiyo-e that showcase the gist of iki....
MUJI House “Yo no ie” model home
We visited the model home of the "Yo no ie" in Chiba, Japan. Yo no Ie is MUJI House's latest product and first single story house, focsed to open toward the outside environment....
Toyo Ito Interview in Omishima: Architecture then, now and next 1
I spent a morning with Toyo Ito on Omishima island in 2018, where the Toyo Ito Museum of Architecture, Imabari opened an exhibit “Protecting = Creating the Sacred Island of Omishima.” Enjoy Ito's inspiring...
The “Less is more” Economy 1: History of “Less is more”
Modern designers in the early 20th century embraced the notion of “less is more,” which revealed two sides of the same coin – the Jekyll-and-Hyde like character of “more,” and the surprisingly pure, natural...
The architecture of awe: Musashino Art University Library by Sou Fujimoto
Sou Fujimoto designed his own “Library of Babel” at the Musashino Art University. It is the architecture of awe - a mesmerizing world of duality materialized by a spiral forest that consists of books and the...
What is Zen?
Zen is a school of the “Great Vehicle” branch of Buddhism that focuses on meditation. While its core tenets inherit Buddha’s teachings just like others schools, Zen occupies a special space in modern society...
Kengo Kuma Exhibition: a LAB for materials
In-depth coverage of Kengo Kuma exhibition “A LAB for materials." in 2018 that focused on how Kuma leveraged various architecture materials to re-define our relationships with nature....
Church of the Light by Tadao Ando
Tadao Ando re-created the “Church of the Light,” one of his landmark works he designed in 1989, at the exhibition “Tadao Ando: Endeavors” held in Tokyo in 2017. It is stunning to see how light meets concrete,...
MUJI Hut: tiny house dissolving into the environment
MUJI released a “hut” in 2017 which is even tinier than a “tiny house.” Coming with the interior size of 9.1 m2, it delivers agility, mobility and flexibility you would never expected from a house. “Place it...
Demystifying the mysteries of Japanese aesthetics
What's the common secret behind traditional Zen arts/culture, wabi-sabi, MUJI, Japanese architecture, sushi and Totoro? It's the unique approach toward nature....
Beauty of ambiguous architecture: Sou Fujimoto
Sou Fujimoto, one of the most sought-after Japanese architects today, has the incomparable ability to define spatial dimensions and to let a unique kind of abundance emerge even from limited spaces. He often...
Welcome to zero = abundance, your online resource to re-define “happiness” by exploring the potential of “less is more,” leveraging Japanese Zen aesthetics. We offer a variety of ideas and stories on the minimalist lifestyle, design/architecture, business and social change that will help design your own happiness without relying on “more stuff.”
