Shibui is a captivating guide by writer Sanai Ishida about “The Japanese Artwork of Discovering Magnificence in Getting older”. Japanese-American Ishida shares classes she realized from her Tokyo-born mom whereas rising up in Los Angeles.
Shibui has a number of meanings in Japanese that vary from astringent and bitter to elegant, subdued, understated, and tasteful in a quiet method. The guide, crammed with uplifting watercolors, seems on the mindset of growing older by way of the shibui lens.
I liked the numerous connections to Japan within the guide together with sashiko and kintsugi – for giving new life to broken objects and wabi sabi – celebrating minor flaws.
Every chapter is a web page or two introducing many matters. Okinawans why it’s believed they stay among the longest lives on the planet, kansha – gratitude, kampō – historic Japanese herbs and therapeutic practices, and mokuteki – having function in life.
I carried the guide round with me and browse it a number of instances. Typically whereas ready for appointments at like at metropolis corridor. It’s sufficiently small to hold in a handbag and is mild. In the back of the guide is a glossary of Japanese phrases with their kanji characters.
Most of the ideas within the guide are issues that dwelling in Japan we speak about in every day life. I really like how Sanae has captured these and put all of them collectively and defined them in English. I can suppose of some Japanese-American girlfriends round my age who stay within the US who would love this guide. So many issues will fall into place for them rising up in Japanese households abroad.
Shibui is printed by Sasquatch Books. It is a new writer for me and I’ll try what else is of their catalog.
Shibui. The Japanese Artwork of Discovering Magnificence in Getting older.
Sasquatch Books, 2025, 145 pp, $19.95.