Tune-up your senses at optimal level through decluttering

Tidying up is about subtracting your belongings toward the ultimate essentials. Zero = abundance shares common theme. But there is something deeper....

Celebrate what you already own: Patagonia

Patagonia's Black Friday event "Celebrate what you already own" made me think about the relationship between "having (buying) more,", "having (buying) less" and deep satisfaction. I soon came to realization that having less can...

Want to design your own living style? apply for MUJI House

MUJI challenges our strong belief that houses are “bigger, the better.” Meet their lovely, engaging houses -- exactly because they are small....

Kare-sansui (Japanese Zen rock garden): ultimate beauty of absence

Kare-sansui (Zen rock garden) is one of the most prominent Zen designs cemented by Zen Master Muso Sosek in 14th century. Find its history and beauty....

Hiragana-No Spiral House: Yuko Nagayama x Panasonic

This summarizes the major aspect of what modern architecture has been attempting to achieve: stability and security. “But I am increasingly fascinated by a house made of straw,” says architect Yuko Nagayama, who designed HIRAGANA-NO...

Rental Space Tower by Sou Fujimoto: House Vision 2016

Architect Sou Fujimoto is a master of "ambiguity." With Rental Space Tower, he maximizes the joy of sharing by blurring the boundaries of private ownership....

Grand Third Living: Kengo Kuma x Toyota House Vision 2016

At House Vision, Toyota and architect Kengo Kuma focuses on the mobility of cars. Toyota’s plug-in hybrid Prius is equipped with solar panels and has quite a substantial battery storage. It’s a mobile energy generator....

Open House with Condensed Core: House Vision 2016

Architect Shigeru Ban has been actively involved in disaster relief projects in many parts of the world, by designing and providing temporary shelters. When he imagined a next generation house, it became tiny, flexible, mobile,...

“Deceptively simple line”: Charlie Brown, a cartoon of Zen

A cartoonist is someone who draws the same thing day after day without repeating himself. Charles M. Schulz...

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 Hara and Naoto Fukasawa give...

“Simplify!” Steve Jobs’ relentless quest for Zen design

Steve Jobs is known to have practiced the Soto-school of Japanese Zen, and is also known to have loved the kare-sansui garden of the Saijo-ji in Kyoto, which was founded by a prominent Zen priest/garden designer in the 14th century....

Anonymous is beautiful: “The Profiles of Design” by Naoto Fukasawa

Japanese product designer Naoto Fukasawa quotes from his book "The Profile of Design." Find where his minimalist, quiet yet powerful design came from....

How much is sufficient? “80% Full Product” by MUJI

Pursuing "just right" (not too much, not too little), MUJI uses the slogan "fitness80" to ask what the "just right" level/amount is for humans....

Haramaki, Heattech or MUJI: items to keep your body warm and comfy

Our body is a small scale energy generator. What are our own energy efficiency and waste heat recovery measures to stay warm? Look at Heattech by Uniqlo and haramaki....

Re-defining the future of living: House Vision 2016

Japanese minimalist design and the influence of traditional Zen art

If you want to introduce Zen-taste minimalist design, what are the tips? There are several critical Zen aesthetics such as "subtraction", "condensation" and "absence" that strongly influenced modern minimalist design. Find them through...

Where would millennials live when they go minimal?

Millennials are not interested in owning extravagant properties but instead are interested in investing in experiences. Their "ideal" house should look very different from older generation whose dream was to own a big house. What Sou...

Discover the magic of smallness: MUJI’s toothbrush stand

Many everyday products are designed based on the assumption that “bigger is the better.” But MUJI’s tiny toothbrush stand – one of their best selling items – reminds us that small is simply beautiful. Small items fit our body and our...

MUJI x UR: MUJI beautifully fixes-up old-fashioned urban apartments

MUJI has been working with the Japanese UR (Urban Renaissance Agency) to re-define and re-invigorate danchi, old-style condo complex that house thousands of residents at one location....

Kenya Hara and the aesthetics of “emptiness”

Kenya Hara is a Japanese graphic designer who helped cement the philosophy of Japanese brand MUJI by leveraging the concept of “emptiness.” Even though these concepts might appear similar, “emptiness” in Japanese aesthetics is...

Discover the aesthetics of “less is more”

When you abandon "more" to start embracing "less is more," what is actually taking over "more" to make us happy? Zen could help you find the answer....