Omoiyari: The Japanese Art of Compassion

by Erin Niimi Longhurst

Overview

‘Omoiyari is a form of selfless compassion – putting yourself in the shoes of others, and from their perspective anticipating their needs, acting in a way that might make them at ease, happy or comfortable.’

This book will help you embrace omoiyari and bring joy and happiness into your own life and the lives of others.

Care, consideration and empathy underpin all aspects of daily life in Japan and are essential to the social spirit. From Omotenashi (Japanese hospitality), Kirei (cleanliness and organisation) and Mottainai (reducing waste) to Zakka (finding beauty in the mundane) and Senbazuru (the origami art of folding one thousand paper cranes), there are so many different ways that the Japanese emphasise the importance of community and helping others.

With practical and actionable advice throughout, you can learn how to incorporate Japanese culture and the art of compassion into your daily life, because even the smallest of considerate actions can make a world of difference.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780008444921
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	06/08/2021
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	600,637
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.00(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Erin Niimi Longhurst is a half-Japanese, half-British writer and columnist, and the author of Japonisme: Ikigai, forest bathing, wabi-sabi and more. She is a director at a digital agency, working with purpose-led organisations to help them tell stories more effectively online. She has a degree in Social Anthropology from the University of Manchester, and currently splits her time between London and New York.

Table of Contents

Introduction 08

01 Omoi $$$ 22

Mottainai (Avoiding Waste) 34

Kirei (Cleanliness and Organisation) 54

Teinei (Polite Conscientiousness) 74

Zakka (The Beauty of Miscellaneous Things) 94

02 Omoiyari $$$ 106

Wa (Harmony) 114

Omotenashi (The Art of Selfless Hospitality) 136

Onkochishin (Learning from the Past) 154

Senbazuru (One Thousand Paper Cranes) 168

Omakase (To Entrust) 186

Conclusion 206

About the Author 212

Glossary 214

Acknowledgments 224

Editorial Reviews

04/12/2021

Longhurst (Japonisme) explains the Japanese practice of omoiyari, or the anticipation of the needs of others in an altruistic way, in this accessible guide. Omoiyari, she writes, can make the world a better place, because “even the smallest of considerate actions can make a world of difference.” To that end, she recommends avoiding waste, practicing cleanliness, listening with “polite conscientiousness,” and welcoming others with selfless hospitality. Longhurst invites readers to incorporate compassion into their daily lives, and Japanese axioms such as “good fortune can exist in what gets left behind” and concepts—harmonious cohesion, balance, and unity—form the basis of her suggestions for peaceable living, selflessness, and paying respect through acts big and small. Longhurst shares a number of ways to put these principles into practice, including osouji—the once-a-year cleansing of one’s home—wrapping gifts with small cotton hand towels to show appreciation, or making Japanese pancakes for guests as an expression of hospitality. Also provided are tips for being less wasteful, gettting (and staying) organized, and appreciating the beauty in “the most mundane objects.” The result is a rich introduction to a way of life centered on empathy. (June)

Publishers Weekly