I was born and raised in Tokyo, and my grandparents are also from Tokyo. I spent five months in Kamiyama before returning to Tokyo two years ago.
What I learned from my life in Kamiyama, and what I continue to do comfortably, is to "live with only what is necessary." In this article, I would like to write about how much simpler my life has become since returning from Kamiyama.
My time spent in Kamiyama was refreshing and fulfilling every day.
The same cycle continues: go to work, go home, go to work again the next morning, and go home again.
"Even though we spend the same amount of time, why is it that we have time to play, time to study, and time to think?"
I spent my time thinking that way.
The answer I came up with was that "Tokyo has too much information." Shops, products, food, transportation, people, places. There is fun in choosing, but there is also a lot of time to think. In that respect, when I spent time in Kamiyama, I was surrounded by simple and necessary things, and rather than choosing from what was given to me, I enjoyed the time I spent thinking about what I could do with what I had and what I wanted to add.
I spent almost five months there with only one large carry-on suitcase.
You only need a little of what you really need. That's what I wanted to do, but it was something I didn't realise in Tokyo, where there is so much information and so many things.
After returning to Tokyo, I carefully selected the things I needed for the move.
The inside of the house has become very simple. I aimed for a simplicity like a hotel! Maybe it will make you feel like you're traveling all year round (laughs).
There is no furniture other than the main furniture such as a bed and a desk. If you put storage furniture, the amount of things will increase, so one closet about 1 meter wide is enough. Even so, there are only enough clothes that you don't need to change for a year.
The good thing about not having things is that when you lose something, you don't have to spend time looking for it.
No need for rugs or bulky vacuum cleaners. A broom and dustpan for indoor and entrance use. All you need is a quick wipe. You can clean in just five minutes in the morning.
The basic "cleaning squad"
When I shop for ingredients, instead of choosing from the many options at the supermarket, I order fresh vegetables from local farmers. I don't know what's available, so I think about how I'm going to eat the vegetables I receive. If they're in season and freshly picked, they're guaranteed to be delicious.
The ingredients for the day were carrots, eggplant, tomatoes, bitter melon, cucumbers, okra, basil, and common herbs.
I don't need a lot of seasonings. I enjoy finding rare vegetables that I would never have chosen myself, and the meaning behind eating seasonal vegetables. I get vegetables for free, and farmers tell me their recommended ways to eat them, and I shop while talking to them. Of course I use supermarkets, but it's simpler and a lot more economical than buying everything at the supermarket.
Bitter melon salad. Apparently this bitter melon has many repeat customers.
Cut, mix, mix and bake. The cooking method is simple.
I remember how grateful I was to be given so many vegetables in Kamiyama, including some that were harvested straight from the fields and some that were in a form that couldn't be sold.
If I am satisfied with what I need, I stop buying unnecessary things. I am not a materialistic person, and I have almost no expenses other than living expenses.
I'm often asked, "What should I do to save money?" and all I can say is, "I think it's fine as long as you're satisfied with it." Since it's different for everyone, I think you should keep trying until you're satisfied.
I'm not being frugal or cutting back either.
I spend it on things that don't have a tangible effect, but that I enjoy, like meals, travel, and gifts.
Surely that's what's needed.
Now I have more time to relax and do exercises in my room, and I have more time to eat food, so I feel like I have become richer. I'm happy that even though our environments are very different, we can still live like this.
When I have a comfortable life, I feel lively in the mornings too (laughs). I wake up early and take an hour-long walk before going to work. I'm surrounded by butterflies, chased by hornets, and threatened by cicadas; summer mornings are surprisingly lively.
Morning sky and ducks
I encountered people enjoying their morning time in their own way, from exercise to jogging to sightseeing. When someone asked me to take their picture, I received the nostalgic "Sharundesu" camera, and other interesting things happened.
Simplicity may seem impersonal, but it creates more space in both your environment and your mind, which can be quite comfortable.
Even if you're busy, why not try to create some space in your environment?
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