I currently study and wanted a small studio apartment because I did not need a two room apartment. I just don't need that much space. Because I got unlucky I ended up with a two room apartment anyway as having a roof over my head is more important and I dunno what to do with the extra space. I could be paying 2000 NOK less for a studio with its own kitchen instead of dealing with a shared kitchen.
My father made our house whit three bathrooms, now he and my mother complain about cleaning to much. Some times you prepare for a small porcentage of the cases, in this example, to many visitors.
That's why Japan is so good at engineering. They don't go overboard. They engineer for necessity, not for surplus. Honda and Toyota are so reliable because they are not tuned to the nth degree to get every last bit of power out of the engine. Instead they optimise for reliability.
This is only part true. Japan was awful at making quality products before WW2. It was W.E. Deming, an American engineer who went there after the war and trained Japanese businesses to focus on high quality & reliability, thus differentiating themselves from other countries which produced huge quantities of garbage products. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Edwards_Deming#Japan
I'm going to push back on that a little. I threw away almost everything I owned once, thinking it was all weighing me down. Shelves of books and trinkets I never opened or used. Children's books I hadn't looked at since I was a kid. Toys and figures I'd collected. Etc. All gone. It was only later I realized that even though I didn't open the books or pick up the trickets and toys and figures, just seeing them triggered memories. Mostly the memories of where I wasn in my life when I bought the book/toy/figure. Who I was with. What issues or joys I was going through at the time. What I was into then. Etc... Now with them gone I have nothing to trigger those memories. I could maybe try to find pictures of them burried in my photo collection on iPhotos or Google Photos, but it's not the same as seeing them often because they were decorating my aparment. The second thing I find I miss terribly, is a workspace. Growing up with had a garage full of tools. Saws, drills, etc... Tons of maker RUclipsrs have space and tons of supplies. All thing I've never had since I was a kid because I've never lived in anything other than a relatively small apartment since then. No space. A friend of mine sews and she has a sewing room with tons of supplies. She couldn't do that in "most" Japanese apartments.
I'm an American; I had a year where I was really down financially, and had to move 6 different times. After the 3rd time, I just stopped unpacking. It really taught me what is actually valuable to me and what isn't. This "Cumbersome surplus means more to lose" viewpoint kind of hits hard, for me.
This reminds me of the story 舌切り雀 (shita-kiri suzume) which my mother told to me when I was a young child. At the end of this traditional Japanese tale, a poor old man, who had taken care of an injured sparrow, is presented with the choice of a small or large box by the sparrow's grateful flock. Deep in the forest, he chooses the small box since it would be the least heavy to take home. After returning home, he finds that it contains wonderful treasures. His wife, a greedy and spiteful woman who had cut the injured sparrow's tongue after she caught it eating some of the home's food, storms out and demands that the sparrows give her the large box. She takes it, later opens it, and is killed by the monsters hidden within. The takeaway message about greed and the potential for treasures being hidden in small packages left an indelible impression upon me!
That is a really interesting story! :D It is kind of similar to the story about the guy that lost his item in a lake and a monster asked if it was a gold or silver item. Where the guy was honest about what kind of item it was and I believe got the other items too. I have never read the original work, but it is often referenced in the media I consume :) Being pleased with what you have and not be burden down by greed, is pretty positive messages
@@SpeedKing.. they're entertaining for sure but it would be nice if there were more videos on the specific iche culture of kombinis and the history of them. Also I'd like if there was an explanation for what the hell was going on with Miku in front of 7/11 saying "Mikudayo, Mikudayo, Mikudayo" while dancing.
In terms of art, we appreciate the balance and harmony created by the small objects and the large spaces of emptiness they contribute to, rather than just empty spaces. For instance, placing objects slightly off-center can emphasize the vastness of the surrounding space-a small boat can highlight the vastness of the sea, a small house can underscore the grandeur of the surrounding natural landscape, and a small hawk perched on a branch can emphasize the expanse and possibilities of the sky. It's the beauty of the composition that resonates with us.
On the subject of portability, going to Japan has done wonders for my everyday carry. I used to take a backpack everywhere to carry umbrellas, water bottles, charger, first aid and note books. I swapped the bag out for a uniqlo crossbody pack and downsized everything. It's actually crazy how much more I can carry now with much less and I even do more with what I carry now. I'm not using a whole note book, so I learned to carry a note pad and transfer the notes later, turns out when your bag is smaller it's also easier to find things and I realized I only carried a note book was because it seemed natural to fit one in a big backpack.
For me, I downsided from a backpack to a briefcase, and I don't think I'd want to go any smaller. I like having the space to take a laptop when going to and from work as well as a couple battery banks and chargers. I did end up getting smaller headphones, since the full size over ear ones don't fit in a briefcase, and when I ebike, it gives me space to put the massive charger and water bottle in my bag to charge at work
I think with the size of the drink part specifically, it's more of that the small size is what they will actually drink and enjoy. With the larger size you really only get part way through before it is no longer cold and also starts to go flat, then you either toss our what's left or force yourself to drink the part that is no longer really that good. The smaller size is more perfect to be able to enjoy and finish it while it is still good.
And more calorie to burn later on Which means extra workout! But personally, I would still prefer if the price is lower though. Idm if it is just 20% cheaper for half the size but it is still better
@daveevad3524 totally agree with you on the pricing. I really connect with the Japanese on liking smaller stuff since I’m the same way. But stuff like that soda bottle, that just feels like a scam. If it costs the company less to make the smaller bottle, then why charge the same price as the bigger one?
@@renflare Because it doesn't cost the company less to make the smaller bottle, not really. The cost difference of the raw materials is marginal. It's the cost of transporting the raw materials, bottling it, transporting the filled bottle, distributing it to sellers, and filling the vending machine which really determine the selling price. And those are mostly the same for each size. (The bigger size does weigh a little bit more which means slightly more fuel used for transportation, but probably not enough to be significant).
@@renflareBecause it actually costs the same to make the small and big bottle. Soda is 95% just water and sugar. It's very cheap. The bottle is probably more expensive than the drink itself, and you don't need much more plastic to make a slightly larger bottle. The most expensive part of it all? The cap. All bottles have a cap, regardless of their size. Since we don't have the same "less is better" culture as Japanese people, we'd find it unacceptable to pay the same price for a smaller size. But in our countries, the increase in price is far from proportional to the increase in price. You can get a 2L bottle of soda for 110~120% the price of a 0.5L bottle. You get ×4 the size for ×1.2 the price. And you feel happy because you got more, but actually, if we're talking sodas, you paid 20¢ more for something that has an overall cost (including manufacturing, transport, etc.) of 0.01¢ more than the small size.
@@dahyimi2185 @cmmartti Wow I hadn’t thought about all those extra factors. Sorry for the uninformed take and thanks a ton for clearing that up. Makes way more sense now.
Something told me it was going to have to do with the fact that "owning more will mean that you'll lose more once disaster happens" and, man, that's bleak.
In my experience... evacuation is not always so bleak. I suppose in part because of it, I do choose smaller precious items. It helps me evaluate what's _really_ important. Also in an evacuation, you may have to recover a housemate's things without them there, as someone has done for my sake. If everything is smaller, it's easier to help others, too.
as a person who needed one day to pack everything important in 3 little bags that i could carry on myself and then abandon everything else i really feel this. It's traumatic to lose home and not be able to have access to the things I was used to. And when i found a new place to live, I hesitated a lot about buying things that I won't be able to take with me the next time something bad happens. At the same time i really appreciate things that i have, i love them and use them. But yeah. This really makes you live like you can lose everything anytime.
You're not alone bro. I've also become minimalist after I had to throw away everything. Possessions mean nothing, your self (body and brain) and family are is the only truly valuable things.
Strange. According to my observations, continuously moving from country to country multiple times will not stop people from buying large things. If people want to live in comfort, then why restrain yourself?
@@artelisx Wabisabi is kind a mindset to prefer simple ones. Mottainai is a mindset to hate wasting something, like buying too much drink you need These two are definitely different, but the consequences may become similar in some cases
I've been living here for almost a year now and was baffled by this at first. But yeah, it starts to make sense when you settle in and adjust. Thanks for putting so eloquently what i failed to put into words.
Yes! I always love your videos! Also, in addition, I think aesthetics play a part. When I was taking calligraphy lessons, I was told by my calligraphy teacher here in Japan that the beautiful shapes of the white space= yohaku (余白）were as important as the characters made by the black ink. This grew on me and completely changed the way I saw art. Coincidentally, around the same time, my classical guitar teacher (also Japanese) pointed out the beauty of the rest notes in music and I suddenly came to appreciate the blank spaces in Sumie paintings that I could fill in with my imagination. It is hard to explain in words, but "less" in its beautiful simplicity can really be more. By the way, I love the simplicity of colors, the lighting and calm way you have of speaking in this video. You are an artist! (Of course, your comedy is brilliant and awesome as well. I never get tired of it.)
And yet in Japan they sell you DVDs/Blu Rays that have 2 episodes on each volume and video games that come with a ton of "goodies" and a bajillion CDs for the same album that are different from each other.
I always tell people that everything in Japan is adorable. Even the dump trucks are small, round, and a little かわいい, unlike the hulking, somewhat dirty, monsters we have in the states. Thanks for the explanation!
Makes sense with Kei cars and trucks as well. There is a premium on space in the cities and also in the mountains to an extent too so a small car makes so much sense.
This is so much better than most youtube videos talking about Japanese culture. You're able to fit so much information in a short video without it being overwehlming. Top notch writing for real, thanks!
I think I've always understood why the Japanese prefer less things and smaller things. Japan is smaller than California, but it has like 120 million people. And most of the land is not livable. Makes sense. I think people from North America have a skewed view of things. There is just so much space here. The houses are bigger. The cars are bigger. There can a large stretches of nothing but farm land between communities. When I see homes in Europe and Asia, it really puts things in perspective.
I will say that the bigger cars aren’t just American preference. Bigger cars also have laxer emission requirements over time based off the CAFE standards. It’s a bummer tbh because it makes using a car more of a hassle when so many people have SUVs, trucks, etc.
It's Japanese culture that built those cities, not the size of Japan. They weren't forced into density by lack of space. The opposite happened with California, take San Francisco, surrounded by water on 3 sides and much smaller than Tokyo, but even with these size constraints San Francisco is still comparatively very low-density with big houses and wide roads for big cars. I'd call that USA culture. The country as a whole might be smaller, but cities are about city-sized anywhere in the world.
@@Saxolotl0 whatever the origins of the culture of distancing yourself from your fellow human by hating and neglecting public transit and trains, even at the huge cost of making cities unlivable parking lot infested places
@@MsZsc I was replying to a specific point made by the commenter. I am not gonna drag it out into a commentary about the spiritual malaise of American car culture. I know. This is now a recognized problem by more people. I don’t know what to tell you.
You are a rare person in which you are familiar with these two completely different cultures , please keep making these if you have the ideas for cultural differences or paradoxes !
I grew up in suburban Canada, and the norm was having a large house with loads of extra space, multi-car garages with huge vehicles in them, extra rooms for hyper-specific purposes (or, inevitably, a dumping ground for extra crap), and an innate desire to fill them with lots of stuff. Somewhere along the way I realized that really wasn't for me. I actually think my interest in Japanese portable electronics back in the 90s really contributed to that. A Walkman struck me as a lot more useful than a home stereo - it wasn't stuck in one spot and could be used anywhere. Same with the Gameboy. I thought laptops were the coolest things ever, but they definitely weren't affordable yet at that point. Since moving out, my partner and I have lived in apartments with one bedroom and a den (around 600-700 square feet). Both of our parents now live in houses with 5 times more space for the exact same number of people living in them. We have much less stuff and, day-to-day, aren't really left wanting for more space. Heating costs are way lower, it takes way less time to clean, everything is a few steps away, and we do actually have spend a moment thinking about where we're going to put or store something if we buy it. Our "bigger home one day" dream is for something with maybe a bedroom in place of a den. It's a little baffling at this point hearing comments from our parents, wondering how we can possibly survive with "so little" space. There's definitely this cultural ideal pushed among that group that "bigger = more successful", and I'm kind of sick of it.
Didn’t want to write it last time considering the topic but now I am confident in saying that I love this format of serious videos (please keep making the troll ones, they are genius)
I followed the Marie Kondo method of "Does it spark joy?". I have decluttered so much out of my place, items that I took from rental to rental that I didn't or would never use. I felt so much lighter in myself for having decluttered. It made me understand the Japanese way of thinking. My daughter helped me on this journey. Also, after cleaning out mum's place after she went into a nursing home, I didn't want to leave the same situation for my daughter. I didn't become a minimalist, just less is more.
“Tokyo is bigger than Kumamoto. And Japan is bigger than Tokyo. And even bigger than Japan... Even bigger than Japan is the inside of your head. Don't ever surrender yourself ― not to Japan, not to anything. You may think that what you're doing is for the sake of the nation, but let something take possession of you like that, and all you do is bring it down.” ― Sōseki Natsume, Sanshirō This quote has been a source of inspiration for me for a long time. And I feel it somewhat relates to this video. Comparing big and small is one thing. But there are some "smalls" such as our capacity for endless thought in our individual brains that bring out innovation for all of us.
As a German I feel like it is more like the US has an obsession with more and bigger for no practical reason. If you don't want the extra calories it makes sense to drink the smaller drink or eat the smaller meal. If you do not need more space it makes sense to take the smaller apartment. Less cleaning and probably lower heating costs / AC costs. And larger apartments will compell you to fill them with useless crap because otherwise it looks empty. It is easier to live free of clutter in a small apartment. Also, eventually you will move (most likely) and that is easier and cheaper with less crap.
We are indeed culturally encouraged to base buying habits on what is "good value". Many people will buy frozen or non-perishable items in bulk at a discount because it is much cheaper than getting the same amount of food only buying in small amounts when you need it over time. There are those that do this responsibly and eat through thier bulk purchuses before getting any more, but there is also a sad epidemic of hoarding disorder, people excessively stockpiling out of fear of some kind of disaster. Still even someone with no paranoia would tell you that it's a waste of money to spend the same amount on a small meal when you can get the same meal in a bigger size for the same price and have leftovers for the next day. It's very money-minded almost to a fault at times.
When people ask me what sparked my interest in Japan/the Japanese language, it's always been pretty difficult to answer (although watching Kill Bill as a 12 year old definitely planted a seed somewhere). And maybe I still don't know, but I do know what keeps me interested in it now and it's just about everything you said. I began a minimalism journey a few years ago and noticed that in a place like the US even minimalism can be marketed and packaged and sold to you. So of course I am drawn to how Japanese culture seems to be minimalist... from the jump. Because it makes sense. 別にいらないから is a phrase I didn't know I needed. Thanks, Dogen, and Dogen's ex!
6:52 not only to “flex” but because a big house is a nice asset to store your wealth. Not such a great asset in Japan though? As traditionally the bigger house the bigger the risk
I LOVED watching this, I would love to see more longer-format videos explaining the nuances of Japanese culture. Great presentation, thank you Dogen! ^^
As someone who has worked in Insurance adjusting for 14 years and witnessed Disaster after disaster happen to OTHER people. I have seen this happen to my own attitude. I have no interest in buying a house and use one of my two walk in closets in my studio apartment for my birds and the other for all the clothes I own.
Not just more to lose. More to carry. That’s the reason for me to consider the small drink. I actually did this recently when I bought a smaller water bottle to carry with me every day.
Just gonna add myself to the crowd saying I love the long form videos. 20 minutes is a sweet spot, but also there was one where you told a story about waiting for a rural train with an old lady, and it's easily my favorite video of yours thusfar.
Makes total sense. Honestly, when I think about what I would take with me if my home got damaged in an earthquake or if I'd need to evacuate due to a fire (there was literally one on the hill 2000ft away from my home this year on July 4th), I cannot help but start to wonder what I could do away with to make relocating easier. More things seem like a burden when you think about the impermanence of your home.
Small correction…The LUMIX S9 technically doesn’t overheat because video recording is time limited. You can continually hit the button to start again without the camera overheating. Loved the concept in the commentary. 👍
I can completely relate to this mindset, even though I live in Sweden. The reason is different than what you stated for the japanese however. Here there's a long tradition called "jantelagen", which basically comes down to "don't show off". Basically, keep material things to a minimum and avoid showing off your wealth or excess to acoid jealousy and keep everyone on friendly terms. I admit I still live by this norm to some extent, even though its becoming way less common with younger generations.
Excellent Observation! And thank you also on the unintended insight into my own love of Japanese aesthetic and love of simplicity... when you move often, you look at everything from a "Do I really need it?' perspective.
There is some truth in this video. I would agree that there is a love for small things, but definitely not for less. Japanese society is likely at the peak of consumerism, with people here loving to accumulate things.
@@Seele.mp3 Also European, agree with OP. Where in Europe's many tiny countries do you see America's excess? Outside of maybe the odd ultra wealthy person's home.
@@DavidCruickshank Spain at least has tons of land to spare, so it's frequent to see villas ("chalets") and, rather recently, big apartment blocks that are actually very similar in interior size, approaching 200m2... I think France shouldn't be very different on that regard either
I think the Netherlands is closest European match to Japan. Here high premium for space also lead to land reclamation, smaller houses, disapproval of massive American cars, etc. Flooding is an ever present danger which is managed through combination of engineering, social and political (watershap) feats. Although biggest tragedies in our history is mostly about invasions from our neighbours.
Interesting thoughts, but I'm not entirely convinced. I'm not sure that conflating "small" & "portable" with "less" is correct. While I know a few minimalist Japanese, most homes I've visited were cluttered with so much "iranai" stuff I found it uncomfortable - stuffed toys, old manga, etc. - How does that tendency fit in to this? And small doesn't necessarily mean "kawaii" does it? Where does the Japanese infatuation with kawaii come from? I'd like to hear more thoughts on this topic. Some aspects seemed reasonable, but perhaps the argument was extended too. Oh and by the way, "Your English is so good!" :)
In germany some say "Why having 10 bathrooms while I can only dump into one at a time" and I can agree. Why having so much space that you have to hire someone to keep it clean? Ownng more is also expensive, the more cars you have, the higher the costs of keeping them is.
Lets not forget that germany is also a country, where space comes at a premium, and where renting is very expensive. Also, germans are traditionally blue collar workers which dont make a lot of money. It should be the norm to be minimalist under these circumstances.
@@tlst94 But you maybe need two at a time, everything else is overcompensation for medium-sized families (2 parents with 1-2 children). Sure you can make up special cases like having a Dinner Party every night with the whole neighborhood but how likely is that?
Incredibly thought provoking. Thank you for sharing this with an English speaking audience. Love seeing these ideas spread and shared outside of Japan.
when i was in university in kyoto i had an american professor of anthropology there tell me kawaii culture grew out of a desire to shrink any percieved threat of japan as a military contender. he was also a fan of 'cool japan'
Fascinating and insightful, thank you. You have given me something to think about why I also love small things. They often do less, but I love them just the same. My own personal adaptability narrative may be the explanation.
Sorry but I completely disagree with your statement. I live in Santiago, Chile 🇨🇱 and our earthquakes are even worse than in Japan 🇯🇵. You can review actual statistics. We also are a country which is mostly mountains and desert with little arable land, which is where most of the cities are situated. I have been to Japan twice and I’m in love with their culture which I know a lot. However, I can assure you that here in Chile we definitely do not prefer small things.
This was in my recommended for a while, I am so happy I clicked on this video! Fantastic essay, you taught me a lot and I have realized that I am somewhat of a hoarder. Thank you Dogen, until next time!
DOGENNNNN, I love your skits but this video (just like the previous one) is just next level. Awesome breakdown, thank you for posting it. It's coming at the right time for me too, as I'm on the last day of packing before moving out and I still have *so much* to pack...
“because i don’t need it” is so beautiful and i hope to incorporate it more into my life
I currently study and wanted a small studio apartment because I did not need a two room apartment. I just don't need that much space.
Because I got unlucky I ended up with a two room apartment anyway as having a roof over my head is more important and I dunno what to do with the extra space. I could be paying 2000 NOK less for a studio with its own kitchen instead of dealing with a shared kitchen.
needs and wants are the same.
just semantics.
the fact that this thought never occurred to you / has been taught to you honestly baffles my mind
a culture of not being greedy
My father made our house whit three bathrooms, now he and my mother complain about cleaning to much. Some times you prepare for a small porcentage of the cases, in this example, to many visitors.
I am really liking these longer, non-skit videos. I'd love for you to keep them going. I don't think I'm alone in that.
+1
+1
+0.5 +0.5 (I also love small things)
Actually I'm so used to his skits I was waiting for the punchline the whole 7 minutes
+10
That's why Japan is so good at engineering. They don't go overboard. They engineer for necessity, not for surplus. Honda and Toyota are so reliable because they are not tuned to the nth degree to get every last bit of power out of the engine. Instead they optimise for reliability.
Casio and Citizen watches are also known for reliability.
japanese overengineered stationary says Hi
The overall poor quality of most cars has nothing to do with optimizing for performance.
In short, they are more precise.
This is only part true. Japan was awful at making quality products before WW2. It was W.E. Deming, an American engineer who went there after the war and trained Japanese businesses to focus on high quality & reliability, thus differentiating themselves from other countries which produced huge quantities of garbage products. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Edwards_Deming#Japan
You will centrainly appreciate this way of thinking when you have to move
I'm going to push back on that a little. I threw away almost everything I owned once, thinking it was all weighing me down. Shelves of books and trinkets I never opened or used. Children's books I hadn't looked at since I was a kid. Toys and figures I'd collected. Etc. All gone. It was only later I realized that even though I didn't open the books or pick up the trickets and toys and figures, just seeing them triggered memories. Mostly the memories of where I wasn in my life when I bought the book/toy/figure. Who I was with. What issues or joys I was going through at the time. What I was into then. Etc... Now with them gone I have nothing to trigger those memories. I could maybe try to find pictures of them burried in my photo collection on iPhotos or Google Photos, but it's not the same as seeing them often because they were decorating my aparment.
The second thing I find I miss terribly, is a workspace. Growing up with had a garage full of tools. Saws, drills, etc... Tons of maker RUclipsrs have space and tons of supplies. All thing I've never had since I was a kid because I've never lived in anything other than a relatively small apartment since then. No space. A friend of mine sews and she has a sewing room with tons of supplies. She couldn't do that in "most" Japanese apartments.
I'm an American; I had a year where I was really down financially, and had to move 6 different times. After the 3rd time, I just stopped unpacking. It really taught me what is actually valuable to me and what isn't. This "Cumbersome surplus means more to lose" viewpoint kind of hits hard, for me.
Even for your own health, having *less* to move leads to a healthier and longer life
it is one thing to buy less or use less, but to pay the same like the living space, is strange
The one thing I want more than to travel light is to settle light.
Really liking these longer form videos!
i like dogen & the video, but 8 minutes is hardly long form 😅
Ironic lol
All of a sudden Dogen's a history channel and please don't stop
This reminds me of the story 舌切り雀 (shita-kiri suzume) which my mother told to me when I was a young child. At the end of this traditional Japanese tale, a poor old man, who had taken care of an injured sparrow, is presented with the choice of a small or large box by the sparrow's grateful flock. Deep in the forest, he chooses the small box since it would be the least heavy to take home. After returning home, he finds that it contains wonderful treasures. His wife, a greedy and spiteful woman who had cut the injured sparrow's tongue after she caught it eating some of the home's food, storms out and demands that the sparrows give her the large box. She takes it, later opens it, and is killed by the monsters hidden within.
The takeaway message about greed and the potential for treasures being hidden in small packages left an indelible impression upon me!
tbh until you mentioned the treasure I didn't even think of what was inside the box, I just wanted a big box
Unrelated, but GAWD thanks for the wave of nostalgia mate, i remember watching that short story on a DVD.
Thank you for the wonderful insight you presented.
That is a really interesting story! :D
It is kind of similar to the story about the guy that lost his item in a lake and a monster asked if it was a gold or silver item. Where the guy was honest about what kind of item it was and I believe got the other items too. I have never read the original work, but it is often referenced in the media I consume :)
Being pleased with what you have and not be burden down by greed, is pretty positive messages
"Frieren, this is the tenth time you got eaten by a mimic. When will you learn?"
Dogen this new video format that you have recently adopted are great and I find myself looking forward to the next one. Thank you.
i second this emotion.
More in-depth insight on Japanese culture than 99% of youtube videos on Japan
"trying Japan's worst convenience store food, part 9234"
仏教とかの影響だと思うからこの人全く日本理解できてないぞ、ステレオタイプにはめて勝手に理解した気になってるだけ
@@iamdmc nothing wrong with those
@@SpeedKing.. they're entertaining for sure but it would be nice if there were more videos on the specific iche culture of kombinis and the history of them. Also I'd like if there was an explanation for what the hell was going on with Miku in front of 7/11 saying "Mikudayo, Mikudayo, Mikudayo" while dancing.
In terms of art, we appreciate the balance and harmony created by the small objects and the large spaces of emptiness they contribute to, rather than just empty spaces. For instance, placing objects slightly off-center can emphasize the vastness of the surrounding space-a small boat can highlight the vastness of the sea, a small house can underscore the grandeur of the surrounding natural landscape, and a small hawk perched on a branch can emphasize the expanse and possibilities of the sky. It's the beauty of the composition that resonates with us.
Every culture has both minimalist and non-minimalist art. For example: 浮絵日本橋肴市之図
On the subject of portability, going to Japan has done wonders for my everyday carry. I used to take a backpack everywhere to carry umbrellas, water bottles, charger, first aid and note books. I swapped the bag out for a uniqlo crossbody pack and downsized everything. It's actually crazy how much more I can carry now with much less and I even do more with what I carry now. I'm not using a whole note book, so I learned to carry a note pad and transfer the notes later, turns out when your bag is smaller it's also easier to find things and I realized I only carried a note book was because it seemed natural to fit one in a big backpack.
For me, I downsided from a backpack to a briefcase, and I don't think I'd want to go any smaller. I like having the space to take a laptop when going to and from work as well as a couple battery banks and chargers. I did end up getting smaller headphones, since the full size over ear ones don't fit in a briefcase, and when I ebike, it gives me space to put the massive charger and water bottle in my bag to charge at work
I swapped the backpack for a tote bag and honestly never felt better. I agree that this mentality can be very freeing.
I think with the size of the drink part specifically, it's more of that the small size is what they will actually drink and enjoy. With the larger size you really only get part way through before it is no longer cold and also starts to go flat, then you either toss our what's left or force yourself to drink the part that is no longer really that good. The smaller size is more perfect to be able to enjoy and finish it while it is still good.
And more calorie to burn later on
Which means extra workout!
But personally, I would still prefer if the price is lower though. Idm if it is just 20% cheaper for half the size but it is still better
@daveevad3524 totally agree with you on the pricing. I really connect with the Japanese on liking smaller stuff since I’m the same way. But stuff like that soda bottle, that just feels like a scam. If it costs the company less to make the smaller bottle, then why charge the same price as the bigger one?
@@renflare Because it doesn't cost the company less to make the smaller bottle, not really. The cost difference of the raw materials is marginal. It's the cost of transporting the raw materials, bottling it, transporting the filled bottle, distributing it to sellers, and filling the vending machine which really determine the selling price. And those are mostly the same for each size.
(The bigger size does weigh a little bit more which means slightly more fuel used for transportation, but probably not enough to be significant).
@@renflareBecause it actually costs the same to make the small and big bottle.
Soda is 95% just water and sugar. It's very cheap. The bottle is probably more expensive than the drink itself, and you don't need much more plastic to make a slightly larger bottle. The most expensive part of it all? The cap. All bottles have a cap, regardless of their size.
Since we don't have the same "less is better" culture as Japanese people, we'd find it unacceptable to pay the same price for a smaller size. But in our countries, the increase in price is far from proportional to the increase in price. You can get a 2L bottle of soda for 110~120% the price of a 0.5L bottle. You get ×4 the size for ×1.2 the price. And you feel happy because you got more, but actually, if we're talking sodas, you paid 20¢ more for something that has an overall cost (including manufacturing, transport, etc.) of 0.01¢ more than the small size.
@@dahyimi2185 @cmmartti Wow I hadn’t thought about all those extra factors. Sorry for the uninformed take and thanks a ton for clearing that up. Makes way more sense now.
Less attachment, less suffering. Love your work, thank you for sharing.
Something told me it was going to have to do with the fact that "owning more will mean that you'll lose more once disaster happens" and, man, that's bleak.
The video told you.
@@puskywastaken I corrected the comment as I expressed myself wrong. I wrote this before watching the video.
It's bleak, yes. It's also realistic.
Or live as if you’re about to be evicted
In my experience... evacuation is not always so bleak. I suppose in part because of it, I do choose smaller precious items. It helps me evaluate what's _really_ important.
Also in an evacuation, you may have to recover a housemate's things without them there, as someone has done for my sake. If everything is smaller, it's easier to help others, too.
as a person who needed one day to pack everything important in 3 little bags that i could carry on myself and then abandon everything else i really feel this. It's traumatic to lose home and not be able to have access to the things I was used to. And when i found a new place to live, I hesitated a lot about buying things that I won't be able to take with me the next time something bad happens. At the same time i really appreciate things that i have, i love them and use them. But yeah. This really makes you live like you can lose everything anytime.
You're not alone bro.
I've also become minimalist after I had to throw away everything.
Possessions mean nothing, your self (body and brain) and family are is the only truly valuable things.
Its becoming like this in Canada because the housing crisis and high rents.
Strange. According to my observations, continuously moving from country to country multiple times will not stop people from buying large things. If people want to live in comfort, then why restrain yourself?
面白い視点ですね。純日本人にはなかなか気付けないことだと思います。
自分の考えでは、無駄になったものを捨てることを嫌う、いわゆる"もったいない"の文化も関係してると思います。たぶんですが、戦時戦後のあらゆる物資が不足した時代、おおよそ80年前に、無駄を出さない、不要な贅沢をしない、こうした行動が美的であるという認識が広まったのではないでしょうか
あと、江戸時代の政策とかも影響してる気がします。現在、改めて日本史の高校レベルを勉強しているのですが、結構、現代の価値観や様式に近世の影響が残ってる事に気付くことがあります。首都も変わってませんしね。江戸時代は結構、経済危機が何度も起こって、経済改革を何度も行ってるので、その影響や価値観が残ってるのだろうなぁという気がします。
I’d like to know more about this “mottainai” culture. Is that related to “wabi-sabi”?
@@artelisx Wabisabi is kind a mindset to prefer simple ones. Mottainai is a mindset to hate wasting something, like buying too much drink you need
These two are definitely different, but the consequences may become similar in some cases
@@artelisx「もったいない」と「侘び寂び」は全く違うと思います。
もったいないの使い方としては、「そのカメラはまだ使えるのに替えてしまうなんてもったいない」とか、「その靴はまだ履けるのに捨ててしまうなんてもったいない」とかまだ役に立つのに捨ててしまったり、使わなくなってしまうことに使います。
一方侘び寂びとは、これは日本人にとっても言語化することは非常に難しいのですが、簡単に言うと、豪華絢爛で一面が輝いているような部屋や物よりも、もっと自然を取り入れたり、より質素な雰囲気に仕立て上げられた部屋や物の方が美しいよね。っていう考え方です。
この侘び寂びについて言葉で説明することは非常に難しいので、2016年にサウジアラビアの皇太子が来日し、天皇陛下と会見された時の写真を調べてみてください。
これが海外の方にとって最もわかりやすい例だと思います！
That's a really interesting analysis, I had never really considered that perspective before!
That is definitely a very interesting way of life
I've been living here for almost a year now and was baffled by this at first. But yeah, it starts to make sense when you settle in and adjust. Thanks for putting so eloquently what i failed to put into words.
Yes! I always love your videos! Also, in addition, I think aesthetics play a part. When I was taking calligraphy lessons, I was told by my calligraphy teacher here in Japan that the beautiful shapes of the white space= yohaku (余白）were as important as the characters made by the black ink. This grew on me and completely changed the way I saw art. Coincidentally, around the same time, my classical guitar teacher (also Japanese) pointed out the beauty of the rest notes in music and I suddenly came to appreciate the blank spaces in Sumie paintings that I could fill in with my imagination. It is hard to explain in words, but "less" in its beautiful simplicity can really be more. By the way, I love the simplicity of colors, the lighting and calm way you have of speaking in this video. You are an artist! (Of course, your comedy is brilliant and awesome as well. I never get tired of it.)
This is a such a beautiful comment. Thank you for writing it.
And yet in Japan they sell you DVDs/Blu Rays that have 2 episodes on each volume and video games that come with a ton of "goodies" and a bajillion CDs for the same album that are different from each other.
This was very insightful. I love these new videos.
Thanks!
They portrayed this mentality really well on the TV series Shogun. It's an awesome show.
Great video. Thanks for sharing this insight into Japanese culture.
I'm really loving these videos. Thank you Dogen!
I gained so many insights from now BOTH of Dogen's recent English-form videos. I hope this style of essay continues
I always tell people that everything in Japan is adorable. Even the dump trucks are small, round, and a little かわいい, unlike the hulking, somewhat dirty, monsters we have in the states. Thanks for the explanation!
they even talk with a cute voice when they're about to turn!
The firetrucks too!
Makes sense with Kei cars and trucks as well. There is a premium on space in the cities and also in the mountains to an extent too so a small car makes so much sense.
Wow, right after I purchased a Lumix S9, and I live in Japan. Nice video.
This is so much better than most youtube videos talking about Japanese culture. You're able to fit so much information in a short video without it being overwehlming. Top notch writing for real, thanks!
I think I've always understood why the Japanese prefer less things and smaller things. Japan is smaller than California, but it has like 120 million people. And most of the land is not livable. Makes sense.
I think people from North America have a skewed view of things. There is just so much space here. The houses are bigger. The cars are bigger. There can a large stretches of nothing but farm land between communities. When I see homes in Europe and Asia, it really puts things in perspective.
I will say that the bigger cars aren’t just American preference. Bigger cars also have laxer emission requirements over time based off the CAFE standards. It’s a bummer tbh because it makes using a car more of a hassle when so many people have SUVs, trucks, etc.
the USA has yet to pay the bill of their excess.
It's Japanese culture that built those cities, not the size of Japan. They weren't forced into density by lack of space. The opposite happened with California, take San Francisco, surrounded by water on 3 sides and much smaller than Tokyo, but even with these size constraints San Francisco is still comparatively very low-density with big houses and wide roads for big cars. I'd call that USA culture.
The country as a whole might be smaller, but cities are about city-sized anywhere in the world.
@@Saxolotl0 whatever the origins of the culture of distancing yourself from your fellow human by hating and neglecting public transit and trains, even at the huge cost of making cities unlivable parking lot infested places
@@MsZsc I was replying to a specific point made by the commenter. I am not gonna drag it out into a commentary about the spiritual malaise of American car culture. I know. This is now a recognized problem by more people. I don’t know what to tell you.
You are a rare person in which you are familiar with these two completely different cultures , please keep making these if you have the ideas for cultural differences or paradoxes !
Gotta say, I'm liking these commentary style videos. Keep up the good work.
I grew up in suburban Canada, and the norm was having a large house with loads of extra space, multi-car garages with huge vehicles in them, extra rooms for hyper-specific purposes (or, inevitably, a dumping ground for extra crap), and an innate desire to fill them with lots of stuff. Somewhere along the way I realized that really wasn't for me. I actually think my interest in Japanese portable electronics back in the 90s really contributed to that. A Walkman struck me as a lot more useful than a home stereo - it wasn't stuck in one spot and could be used anywhere. Same with the Gameboy. I thought laptops were the coolest things ever, but they definitely weren't affordable yet at that point.
Since moving out, my partner and I have lived in apartments with one bedroom and a den (around 600-700 square feet). Both of our parents now live in houses with 5 times more space for the exact same number of people living in them. We have much less stuff and, day-to-day, aren't really left wanting for more space. Heating costs are way lower, it takes way less time to clean, everything is a few steps away, and we do actually have spend a moment thinking about where we're going to put or store something if we buy it. Our "bigger home one day" dream is for something with maybe a bedroom in place of a den. It's a little baffling at this point hearing comments from our parents, wondering how we can possibly survive with "so little" space. There's definitely this cultural ideal pushed among that group that "bigger = more successful", and I'm kind of sick of it.
Didn’t want to write it last time considering the topic but now I am confident in saying that I love this format of serious videos (please keep making the troll ones, they are genius)
I followed the Marie Kondo method of "Does it spark joy?". I have decluttered so much out of my place, items that I took from rental to rental that I didn't or would never use. I felt so much lighter in myself for having decluttered. It made me understand the Japanese way of thinking. My daughter helped me on this journey. Also, after cleaning out mum's place after she went into a nursing home, I didn't want to leave the same situation for my daughter. I didn't become a minimalist, just less is more.
Many Japanese love clutter and it often gets out of hand; that's why Marie Kondō had plenty of opportunities to make money.
“Tokyo is bigger than Kumamoto. And Japan is bigger than Tokyo. And even bigger than Japan... Even bigger than Japan is the inside of your head. Don't ever surrender yourself ― not to Japan, not to anything. You may think that what you're doing is for the sake of the nation, but let something take possession of you like that, and all you do is bring it down.” ― Sōseki Natsume, Sanshirō
This quote has been a source of inspiration for me for a long time. And I feel it somewhat relates to this video. Comparing big and small is one thing. But there are some "smalls" such as our capacity for endless thought in our individual brains that bring out innovation for all of us.
oh man, souseki. thats a great motivational discourse from literature
As a German I feel like it is more like the US has an obsession with more and bigger for no practical reason. If you don't want the extra calories it makes sense to drink the smaller drink or eat the smaller meal. If you do not need more space it makes sense to take the smaller apartment. Less cleaning and probably lower heating costs / AC costs. And larger apartments will compell you to fill them with useless crap because otherwise it looks empty. It is easier to live free of clutter in a small apartment. Also, eventually you will move (most likely) and that is easier and cheaper with less crap.
We are indeed culturally encouraged to base buying habits on what is "good value". Many people will buy frozen or non-perishable items in bulk at a discount because it is much cheaper than getting the same amount of food only buying in small amounts when you need it over time. There are those that do this responsibly and eat through thier bulk purchuses before getting any more, but there is also a sad epidemic of hoarding disorder, people excessively stockpiling out of fear of some kind of disaster. Still even someone with no paranoia would tell you that it's a waste of money to spend the same amount on a small meal when you can get the same meal in a bigger size for the same price and have leftovers for the next day. It's very money-minded almost to a fault at times.
Last few videos have been some of my favorite mr dogen
Awesome new format
When people ask me what sparked my interest in Japan/the Japanese language, it's always been pretty difficult to answer (although watching Kill Bill as a 12 year old definitely planted a seed somewhere). And maybe I still don't know, but I do know what keeps me interested in it now and it's just about everything you said. I began a minimalism journey a few years ago and noticed that in a place like the US even minimalism can be marketed and packaged and sold to you. So of course I am drawn to how Japanese culture seems to be minimalist... from the jump. Because it makes sense. 別にいらないから is a phrase I didn't know I needed. Thanks, Dogen, and Dogen's ex!
It's not minimalist; it's miniature.
Enjoyed this video and the previous one! And if this becomes a mini-series, I'm not gonna complain.
6:52 not only to “flex” but because a big house is a nice asset to store your wealth. Not such a great asset in Japan though? As traditionally the bigger house the bigger the risk
Wow, I love the unconnected dots that you connect. I've lived in Japan over 20 years and what you pointed out makes total sense. おおきに！
7:18 nitpick but kondo is 100% against the question "what can i throw away". Nagisa Tatsumi (art of discarding) could be there.
I LOVED watching this, I would love to see more longer-format videos explaining the nuances of Japanese culture. Great presentation, thank you Dogen! ^^
love this analysis you really tied the points together
Awesome video, thanks for sharing. 👍
This video is unusual. Why do I feel less sarcasm and more value. Thank you, please make more like this.
Because it's not sarcastic, it's a honest view on culture and way of life
This was a really good video to watch in the sea of short form content these days. Please keep making videos like these
Great video, I love the way you are making an essay and explaining japanese culture and ways of being in this way.
Thank you Dogen!
I really like these videos! Of course I still need the skits, too. But these are really great!
As someone who has worked in Insurance adjusting for 14 years and witnessed Disaster after disaster happen to OTHER people. I have seen this happen to my own attitude. I have no interest in buying a house and use one of my two walk in closets in my studio apartment for my birds and the other for all the clothes I own.
Short and to the point explanation, loved this one
Not just more to lose. More to carry. That’s the reason for me to consider the small drink. I actually did this recently when I bought a smaller water bottle to carry with me every day.
Just gonna add myself to the crowd saying I love the long form videos. 20 minutes is a sweet spot, but also there was one where you told a story about waiting for a rural train with an old lady, and it's easily my favorite video of yours thusfar.
Makes total sense. Honestly, when I think about what I would take with me if my home got damaged in an earthquake or if I'd need to evacuate due to a fire (there was literally one on the hill 2000ft away from my home this year on July 4th), I cannot help but start to wonder what I could do away with to make relocating easier. More things seem like a burden when you think about the impermanence of your home.
Great video. The camera example really highlights the topic
Small correction…The LUMIX S9 technically doesn’t overheat because video recording is time limited. You can continually hit the button to start again without the camera overheating. Loved the concept in the commentary. 👍
I can completely relate to this mindset, even though I live in Sweden. The reason is different than what you stated for the japanese however. Here there's a long tradition called "jantelagen", which basically comes down to "don't show off". Basically, keep material things to a minimum and avoid showing off your wealth or excess to acoid jealousy and keep everyone on friendly terms. I admit I still live by this norm to some extent, even though its becoming way less common with younger generations.
3:24 Smartest western comment
I have no doubt that commenter is from USA
@@sergi5816 Yeah no, i heard lot of stupid takes from Europeans about japan too.
@@ImRezaFor Asia in general
Excellent Observation! And thank you also on the unintended insight into my own love of Japanese aesthetic and love of simplicity... when you move often, you look at everything from a "Do I really need it?' perspective.
There is some truth in this video. I would agree that there is a love for small things, but definitely not for less. Japanese society is likely at the peak of consumerism, with people here loving to accumulate things.
This was a really nice, concise, and well put video on this topic and Japan's history.
Dogen's passive aggressive way of saying Americans are fat.
Jk, loved the Chomei reference, need to check that out.
面白い考察ですね
鴨長明がポータブルハウスに住んでいたのは初めて知って、すごい気に入りました
As an European it feels like we are the middle ground between America and Japan.
classic european having a take about stuff
HEAVILY depends where in Europe you are from. You're being far too vague.
@@Seele.mp3 Also European, agree with OP. Where in Europe's many tiny countries do you see America's excess? Outside of maybe the odd ultra wealthy person's home.
@@DavidCruickshank Spain at least has tons of land to spare, so it's frequent to see villas ("chalets") and, rather recently, big apartment blocks that are actually very similar in interior size, approaching 200m2... I think France shouldn't be very different on that regard either
I think the Netherlands is closest European match to Japan. Here high premium for space also lead to land reclamation, smaller houses, disapproval of massive American cars, etc. Flooding is an ever present danger which is managed through combination of engineering, social and political (watershap) feats. Although biggest tragedies in our history is mostly about invasions from our neighbours.
Thank you. I’ve watched and shared this multiple times.
Interesting thoughts, but I'm not entirely convinced. I'm not sure that conflating "small" & "portable" with "less" is correct. While I know a few minimalist Japanese, most homes I've visited were cluttered with so much "iranai" stuff I found it uncomfortable - stuffed toys, old manga, etc. - How does that tendency fit in to this? And small doesn't necessarily mean "kawaii" does it? Where does the Japanese infatuation with kawaii come from? I'd like to hear more thoughts on this topic. Some aspects seemed reasonable, but perhaps the argument was extended too. Oh and by the way, "Your English is so good!" :)
the flow of this vid in particular is amazing
最近English勉強中なのですが、Dogenさんの発音すごく聴きやすいですね…！ 自分のヒアリング能力が上がったと勘違いしそうになりました。
One of the best videos about Japan I've ever watched, and I've watched plenty of them
"Every small thing is cute" wrote the Japanese famous writer Seisho-Nagon in 1002. Even 1000 years ago the same senses were present.
In the history of geography, 10 centuries is less than a blink. Japan's livable area has not changed in any significant sense in that timespan.
These new type of videos are so educational and interesting!
In germany some say "Why having 10 bathrooms while I can only dump into one at a time" and I can agree.
Why having so much space that you have to hire someone to keep it clean?
Ownng more is also expensive, the more cars you have, the higher the costs of keeping them is.
Lets not forget that germany is also a country, where space comes at a premium, and where renting is very expensive. Also, germans are traditionally blue collar workers which dont make a lot of money. It should be the norm to be minimalist under these circumstances.
@@tlst94 But you maybe need two at a time, everything else is overcompensation for medium-sized families (2 parents with 1-2 children). Sure you can make up special cases like having a Dinner Party every night with the whole neighborhood but how likely is that?
This was extremely insightful!
1:33 shoutout to APU
I came to the same conclusion as you before I finished the video. This is fascinating stuff. Subscribed.
8 minute video... this gonna be good.
These cultural explanation videos are great. I like how this is tied to relevant current topics. Please keep it up!
that's what she said
thoughtful... wondered about this at some point, thanks for putting this together!
Is this the end of Dogen the comedian?
This is the start of Dogen the comediain't.
Dogen, this new format for your videos is excellent. It’s great to get insight into the Japanese way/mindset 😊
アメリカ人はデカいものが好きすぎる
Enjoyed this thoughtful cultural analysis. Would love to see more like this.
What is he saying in Japanese 1:02
Translation -But I don't really need it
いや、別にいらないから
iya, betsu ni iranai kara
This is a very interesting observation - really enjoyed listening to this and will definitely keep thinking about it. Thank you.
You have to think of it like shoes. You don't want the biggest pair you can afford, you want the pair that fits.
So interesting, thank you!
These comments learned nothing from this video. Looking forward to watching the next sight that inspires you Dogen.
Incredibly thought provoking. Thank you for sharing this with an English speaking audience. Love seeing these ideas spread and shared outside of Japan.
when i was in university in kyoto i had an american professor of anthropology there tell me kawaii culture grew out of a desire to shrink any percieved threat of japan as a military contender. he was also a fan of 'cool japan'
Fascinating and insightful, thank you. You have given me something to think about why I also love small things. They often do less, but I love them just the same.
My own personal adaptability narrative may be the explanation.
Sorry but I completely disagree with your statement. I live in Santiago, Chile 🇨🇱 and our earthquakes are even worse than in Japan 🇯🇵. You can review actual statistics. We also are a country which is mostly mountains and desert with little arable land, which is where most of the cities are situated. I have been to Japan twice and I’m in love with their culture which I know a lot. However, I can assure you that here in Chile we definitely do not prefer small things.
This, same situation as yours, same conclusion
This is SUCH a perceptive take on this! Thank you for this, Dogen
Loving the more informative longer form content! It sheds a new perspective on Japanese culture which has been really interesting!
This was in my recommended for a while, I am so happy I clicked on this video! Fantastic essay, you taught me a lot and I have realized that I am somewhat of a hoarder. Thank you Dogen, until next time!
This was so interesting! Loved how you also talked about the litterature from schools. Awesome video!
DOGENNNNN, I love your skits but this video (just like the previous one) is just next level. Awesome breakdown, thank you for posting it.
It's coming at the right time for me too, as I'm on the last day of packing before moving out and I still have *so much* to pack...