LoveReading Says
LoveReading Says
Suffused in the beauty and healing magic of nature, Natalie Leon’s The Japanese Art of Living Seasonally offers life-enhancing, life-affirming suggestions for how to “enrich our days by taking inspiration from Japan’s rich seasonal culture” through understanding and harnessing kisetsukan — a sense of the seasons.
From embracing shun (eating local, seasonal food when it’s at the peak of its flavoursome freshness) and zero-waste living through the concept of mottainai (the centuries-old practice of respecting resources and their value while reducing waste), to understanding the value of ikebana (“arranging flowers” or “giving life to flowers”), and otsukimi (the ritual of moon viewing), this trove is informative, inspiring and practical.
Through sharing folktales, recipes, and implementable ways to enjoy the soulful rewards of engaging with plants, trees and flowers across the seasons, along with suggestions for creating one’s own seasonal poetry, images, music and fashion, The Japanese Art of Living Seasonally takes readers on a mindful journey that might just transform lives.
Joanne Owen
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The Japanese Art of Living Seasonally Synopsis
Written by Japanologist Natalie Leon, this beautiful guide unlocks the secrets of Japan's seasonal culture to help you relish the seasons wherever you are.
Relish every day with the secrets of Japan’s seasonal culture
In traditional Japanese culture, people eat, sleep and wear the seasons, from kimono motifs to petal-shaped sweets, and festivals dedicated to nature’s spectacular displays. This mindful celebration of nature leads to a deep awareness of the seasons, called kisetsukan.
This book reveals the hidden depths of kisetsukan, and how its concepts can transform your life. Discover:
- Shun, eating what is fresh and bountiful. Preserve edible flowers to use in homemade sweets, or taste the spring with “seven herb” porridge.
- Mottainai, zero-waste living. Learn about boro boro, visible mending that honours the history of a cherished garment, or wrap gifts in sustainable, seasonal fabrics.
- Kad?, the Way of Flowers. Learn the rules of ikebana and arrange flowers according to the seasons, or throw a cherry blossom-viewing party.
- Momijigari, the ritual of leaf hunting. Explore local nature with “forest bathing”, or learn simple ways to bring the outside inside.
This treasure trove of folktales, recipes and activities is an invitation to celebrate each day, for increased creativity, harmony and happiness.
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Press Reviews
Natalie Leon Press Reviews
"This is the perfect book to pick up to reconnect with your local environment and enrich the everyday life with natural, if not a bit ethereal, beauty" — Kaki Okumura, author of WA: The Art of Balance
"Besides providing a wealth of information about so many aspects of Japanese culture, Natalie Leon also provides workable advice and guidance on how to enrich our everyday lives by celebrating the wonders of every day wherever we are." — Bruce Hamana, student and teacher, Urasenke Tradition of the Way of Tea; author 100 Beautiful Words in the Way of Tea
"Fascinating and authoritative" — Naoko Abe, author of 'Cherry' Ingram: The Englishman Who Saved Japan's Blossoms
"A guide for everyone to incorporate these delightful insights into everyday life" — Liza Dalby, author of East Wind Melts the Ice
"I am impressed by Nathalie’s insightful details in this book. The Japanese Art of Living Seasonally will bring you an enlightened cultural journey through Japan’s colourful sensual seasons and gives a mindful flavour to your daily life. Lots of these historical and philosophical backgrounds and tips are fun to read and inspire you." — Rie Takeda, author of Shodo
