Twelve Japanese Habits That Bring Well-being, Prosperity and Happiness

By Rolando José Olivo

The Japanese culture is extraordinary and admirable. It is based on principles, moral values, habits, customs, ideologies and traditions, standing out: courtesy, discipline, obedience, honesty, responsibility, respect, passion, punctuality, humility and gratitude, among other virtues, and the commitment to consider the country's interests first.

Japan experienced a golden age between 1960-1990, with high growth rates during the 1960s (9.5% annual average), the 1970s (4.5%) and the 1980s (4.6%), and for several years it was the world's second largest economy behind the US. Although the Japanese economy is still in a privileged position: Japan is the world's third largest economy, behind USA and China, with a per capita annual income of US $. 39,285.20 (year 2021), and the miracle of Japanese development, during the second half of the 20th century, is widely recognized. It transformed Japan into an industrialized country and a member of the group of seven.

Of course, this impressive success was not the result of chance, rather the foundations of their culture and wisdom helped the Japanese to adapt to the new reality, after the Second World War.

And the main objective of this publication is to explain twelve relevant Japanese habits that have contributed to the economic development of Japan (Wabi-sabi, Kaizen, Osoji, Kintsugi, Ichigo Ichie, Haragei, Hachimaki, Hansei, Giri, Shinrin Yoku, Kakeibo and Ikigai), and bring well-being, prosperity and happiness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rolando José Olivo
• Release date: Oct 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005040499

Rolando José Olivo

[e-mail] Instagram: @rolandojolivo Systems Engineer with 3 postgraduate degrees: Master's Degree in Applied Economics, Diploma in General Management and Specialization in Management of Social Programs (Summa Cum Laude). Work experience in companies in the oil sector, occupying these positions: Planning and Logistics Manager, Project Coordinator, Financial Advisor and Consultant. Consultant in the economic and financial area. Writer of books on economics, management, self-help, novels and Christianity, among others.

Book preview

Twelve Japanese Habits

That Bring Well-being, Prosperity and Happiness

Copyright © Rolando José Olivo, 2022.

ISBN 978-100-50-4049-9.

Sixth Edition.

Book of Self-help, Philosophy and Religion.

Note: The images of the cover and those included in the text are in the public domain and most can be found on Pixabay.com.

Calculations of Japan's economic growth rates were made based on data from the World Bank. Likewise, the GDP per capita of Japan, year 2021, comes from the statistical data of that institution.

The author does not necessarily share all the ideas, guidelines and opinions of other editors and writers, whose books and articles are in the bibliography.

First published in Spanish: Doce hábitos japoneses que traen bienestar, prosperidad y felicidad (2022).

Translated by Rolando José Olivo.

INDEX

Introduction

First habit, Wabi-sabi or accepting imperfection

Second habit, Kaizen or improving continuously

Third habit, Osoji or mandatory cleaning

Fourth habit, Kintsugi or building resilience

Fifth habit, Ichigo Ichie or appreciating the moment

Sixth habit, Haragei or analyzing the silence

Seventh habit, Hachimaki or continue persevering

Eighth habit, Hansei or self-reflecting on mistakes

Ninth habit, Giri or giving thanks

Tenth habit, Shinrin Yoku or plunging into the forest

Eleventh habit, Kakeibo or saving constantly

Twelfth habit, Ikigai or discovering the purpose of life

Practical summary of the twelve habits

Other Japanese habits

Japanese habits and Christianity

Japanese habits, well-being, prosperity and happiness

Final conclusion

Bibliography

Introduction

The Japanese culture is extraordinary and admirable. It is based on principles, moral values, habits, customs, ideologies and traditions, standing out: courtesy, discipline, obedience, honesty, responsibility, respect, passion, punctuality, humility and gratitude, among other virtues, and the commitment to consider the country's interests first.

After the Second World War, Japan was devastated by the attack of two nuclear bombs, its need to surrender and the US occupation of its territory. Although the Japanese, who are eminently conservative and faithful to their ancient practices, dedicated to the titanic task of rebuilding their nation, and in an impressive way, they achieved that desired political, economic and social success. This was not the result of chance, rather the foundations of their culture and wisdom helped them to adapt to the new reality, insert themselves in the Western world and progress, leaving violence, and focusing their efforts towards the development and progress of the country.

This was reflected in the Emperor Hirohito’s surrender speech on August 15, 1945, who called for peace and work for the reconstruction of the nation.

The Japanese people, faithful to their traditions, obedient and respectful of their rulers, heeded these guidelines and successfully fulfilled their great mission. So much so that Japan experienced a golden age between the years 1960-1990, with high growth rates during the sixties (9.5% annual average), the seventies (4.5% annual average) and the 1980s (4.6% annual average), and for several years it was the second largest economy in the world behind the US. Even by the 1980s, the principles of total quality were fashionable in the West, and there was a huge fear that Japanese companies would displace the American, while the Japanese were big investors in American real estate.

However, since 1992, facing with the advance of China and the Eastern tigers, whose workforce and products are more competitive than those of many countries, and due to internal problems of deflation and liquidity, Japan has suffered from a notable reduction in its economic growth and a certain stagnation of this successful economy persists. In the 1990s, the average annual rate of the economic boom was 1.3%, and in the first two decades of the 21st century, growth rates haven´t been satisfactory: a) 0.7% per year (2001-2010), and b) 0.9% per year (2011-2020).

Although the Japanese economy is still in a privileged position: Japan is the world's third largest economy, behind USA and China, with an annual per capita income of US $. 39,285.20 (year 2021), and the miracle of Japanese development during the second half of the 20th century is widely recognized. It transformed Japan into an industrialized country and a member of the group of seven, or those that were considered the largest economies on the planet, or major developed nations (Canada, USA, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany and Japan).

The main objective of this publication is to explain twelve relevant Japanese habits that have contributed to the economic development of Japan (Wabi-sabi, Kaizen, Osoji, Kintsugi, Ichigo Ichie, Haragei, Hachimaki, Hansei, Giri, Shinrin Yoku, Kakeibo and Ikigai), and bring well-being, prosperity and happiness. Likewise, this text has been complemented with other sections that include: a practical summary of the aforementioned habits, other important Japanese habits, and answers to difficult questions (can Japanese habits be applied by Christians and believers of monotheistic religions? Why do these habits bring well-being, prosperity and happiness?).

For such purposes, these are the next chapters:

First habit,

Wabi-sabi or accepting imperfection.

Second habit,

Kaizen or improving continuously.

Third habit,

Osoji or mandatory cleaning.

Fourth habit,

Kintsugi or building resilience.

Fifth habit,

Ichigo Ichie or appreciating the moment.

Sixth habit,

Haragei or analyzing the silence.

Seventh habit,

Hachimaki or continue persevering.

Eighth habit,

Hansei or self-reflecting on mistakes.

Ninth habit,

Giri or giving thanks.

Tenth habit,

Shinrin Yoku or plunging into the forest.

Eleventh habit,

Kakeibo or saving constantly.

Twelfth habit,

Ikigai or discovering the purpose of life.

Practical summary of the twelve habits.

Other Japanese habits.

Japanese habits and Christianity.

Japanese habits, well-being, prosperity and happiness.

Final conclusion.

Bibliography.

Finally, these excellent Japanese habits are analyzed, giving recommendations on how to put them into practice, expecting that they will contribute to leading a full and satisfactory life, providing well-being, prosperity and happiness...

First habit,

Símbolo Wabi Sabi

Wabi-sabi or accepting imperfection

Wabi-sabi is a great term, used by the Japanese, which in principle is difficult to glimpse in the face of non-conformity, hyperactivity, rush, perfection and the high quality standards of goods and services, required by postmodern society. It constitutes an art, a philosophy and a way of thinking and acting, focused mainly on imperfection and the passage of time. In this regard, instead of heading to perfection, Wabi-sabi masterfully orients towards imperfection, knowing how to appreciate every moment, with an impressive implicit message:

"We are not perfect neither eternal and perfectionism, over time,