Thank you for this. I live in rural Japan as well (up in Miyagi). My Japanese language skills are atrocious, but I am trying. Your substack is an inspiration. I am crashing and burning in my life right now and I take comfort from the simple life you write about. Thank you.
Thank you so much for sharing, from one rural area to another! I hope you can keep trying, even when it's difficult and your progress connects you with people. Thank you again.
While reading this list, I felt such a connection. I grew up in the rural American Midwest. I come from generations of farmers. My parents both have a lot of skills like providing a lot of our own food (garden with 100 tomato plants to share and can) and helping neighbors when their machinery breaks. I grew up in a forest, and now wherever I go, I'm searching for nature even in the largest cities.
Thank you for sharing such beautiful words. I would love to read more.
Thank you for sharing. Connection with nature is a universal language! Finding nature in the city is really like a scavenger hunt. Thank you for the encouragement to share more!
Thank you, I miss my dream Japan from my life. But I was many country. Thailand, Hong Kong, Philippines 8 years. Aikido gave me some more words in my country, Hungary.
"the Japanese language feels so much more embedded into the “Japanese” identity" - so glad you said this, I feel that way about Chinese too, like without knowing as much as a person who grew up in the culture about the history and context of the language, I'm just a parrot repeating phrases I cannot understand.
Thank you for shiwa shiwa. I must keep that one in mind because that's the way I want to live but never seem to be able to... Have you heard of Polly Barton's book, Fifty Sounds? (Polly Barton is the translator of several Japanese novels into English.) Fifty Sounds is a collection of essays using just these sort of words as catalysts for her essays; shiwa shiwa, para para, kira kira, etc.
I have heard of her book!! It's been on my "to-reads" list for a while, but your comment is a reminder to bump it up the list and read it soon. Thank you for sharing!
THANK YOU! This humble American would like to read your beautifully written translations further-the spirit in your words carry me into your village life. Yes, more from your list is more than welcome. I would gladly read a monthly list from you if you had time. I love the notion of "identity" in words; this elevates English "description" beyond the 3rd dimension...
I’m not a native speaker and moved from the countryside to the city ages ago, but I thought that 百姓 classifies as 差別用語/ 放送禁止用語 and you’d rather say 農家 or maybe in newspaper-speak 農業従事者?
Thank you for bringing that up, it's an important point. Historically, the term could have been seen as discriminatory or condescending (depending on context and who you ask). A closer English equivalent in the past might have been “peasant,” which implies lower social class. That said, in my experience living in the countryside, the word seems to carry a more neutral or even positive tone today. I heard it referenced the other day by a friend in her 30s to describe the different skills/jobs she has in the countryside. I hadn’t encountered the word before moving here, and the ways I’ve heard it used have positive. Still, I’d never use it as a title or label for someone without knowing how they feel about it. Thanks again for raising this! It's definitely a word to approach with care!
This was so beautiful thank you. We are visiting for the first time later in the year and need to decide where to travel. These words make me even more excited and give me a lovely feel of Japan without stepping foot in it x
Thank you!! I’m so glad they gave you insight into Japan. I think it really applies most specifically to rural Japan, but it’s all very connected - no matter where you go. Happy planning :)
I love Yutori too. My Substack is actually called The Yutori Path! It is about connecting back to nature by creating space in your life. And as you create space, you find the magic that is there waiting to be shared with the world. I loved reading your list, thank you for sharing!
Thank you for this. I live in rural Japan as well (up in Miyagi). My Japanese language skills are atrocious, but I am trying. Your substack is an inspiration. I am crashing and burning in my life right now and I take comfort from the simple life you write about. Thank you.
Thank you so much for sharing, from one rural area to another! I hope you can keep trying, even when it's difficult and your progress connects you with people. Thank you again.
While reading this list, I felt such a connection. I grew up in the rural American Midwest. I come from generations of farmers. My parents both have a lot of skills like providing a lot of our own food (garden with 100 tomato plants to share and can) and helping neighbors when their machinery breaks. I grew up in a forest, and now wherever I go, I'm searching for nature even in the largest cities.
Thank you for sharing such beautiful words. I would love to read more.
Thank you for sharing. Connection with nature is a universal language! Finding nature in the city is really like a scavenger hunt. Thank you for the encouragement to share more!
Thank you, I miss my dream Japan from my life. But I was many country. Thailand, Hong Kong, Philippines 8 years. Aikido gave me some more words in my country, Hungary.
Japan is staying my dream...
"the Japanese language feels so much more embedded into the “Japanese” identity" - so glad you said this, I feel that way about Chinese too, like without knowing as much as a person who grew up in the culture about the history and context of the language, I'm just a parrot repeating phrases I cannot understand.
Yes! The feeling of being able to communicate but those deeper layers of understanding are so much harder to truly understand.
Thank you for shiwa shiwa. I must keep that one in mind because that's the way I want to live but never seem to be able to... Have you heard of Polly Barton's book, Fifty Sounds? (Polly Barton is the translator of several Japanese novels into English.) Fifty Sounds is a collection of essays using just these sort of words as catalysts for her essays; shiwa shiwa, para para, kira kira, etc.
I have heard of her book!! It's been on my "to-reads" list for a while, but your comment is a reminder to bump it up the list and read it soon. Thank you for sharing!
Komorebi- dance of light and shadow. Life is just like that!
Indeed! Thank you!
THANK YOU! This humble American would like to read your beautifully written translations further-the spirit in your words carry me into your village life. Yes, more from your list is more than welcome. I would gladly read a monthly list from you if you had time. I love the notion of "identity" in words; this elevates English "description" beyond the 3rd dimension...
Thank you so much for your kind comment! I'm glad the words could transport you here to rural Japan. I will definitely keep sharing!
Interesting.
I’m not a native speaker and moved from the countryside to the city ages ago, but I thought that 百姓 classifies as 差別用語/ 放送禁止用語 and you’d rather say 農家 or maybe in newspaper-speak 農業従事者?
Thank you for bringing that up, it's an important point. Historically, the term could have been seen as discriminatory or condescending (depending on context and who you ask). A closer English equivalent in the past might have been “peasant,” which implies lower social class. That said, in my experience living in the countryside, the word seems to carry a more neutral or even positive tone today. I heard it referenced the other day by a friend in her 30s to describe the different skills/jobs she has in the countryside. I hadn’t encountered the word before moving here, and the ways I’ve heard it used have positive. Still, I’d never use it as a title or label for someone without knowing how they feel about it. Thanks again for raising this! It's definitely a word to approach with care!
This was so beautiful thank you. We are visiting for the first time later in the year and need to decide where to travel. These words make me even more excited and give me a lovely feel of Japan without stepping foot in it x
Thank you!! I’m so glad they gave you insight into Japan. I think it really applies most specifically to rural Japan, but it’s all very connected - no matter where you go. Happy planning :)
Your articles are so deep, rich and inspiring. An invitation to stay grounded and contemplate the beauty of life. Thank you 🙏 !
Thank you so much for the kind comment; having such positive feedback means a lot. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for sharing your experience with language! I appreciate your posts!
Beautiful words. Thank you!
BS"D
beautiful as always! What is "ladybug" in Japanese?
Best wishes, Peter
Thank you, Peter!
てんとう虫 (tentou-mushi) - mushi means bug!
I love Yutori too. My Substack is actually called The Yutori Path! It is about connecting back to nature by creating space in your life. And as you create space, you find the magic that is there waiting to be shared with the world. I loved reading your list, thank you for sharing!
That's a beautiful Substack name! Thank you for also sharing about Japanese culture and how the comes through in your gardening and time in nature.
I loved reading and listening to this and I hope you post more because it says so much about the Japanese way of thinking and appreciating nature .
Thank you so much!! I am happy to share more and appreciate your encouragement!
These words are so beautiful, so evocative and perfect for what they convey.
Thank you for this list. And for the image of the ladybird - so delicate.
Thank you so much for the kind comment! I'm glad that you enjoyed the Japanese words!