Minimalism as Survival in Modern Japan

Living Light in an Era of Typhoons, Earthquakes, and Political Shifts

Today I am moving between Mojiko, Shimonoseki, and back to Mojiko. Until now, minimalism has been noted as one of Japan’s lifestyle trends, but beyond the idea of simply reducing possessions to live richly, in today’s world it is about the necessity of responding instantly and flexibly to unpredictable risks in order to survive. In fact, the equipment I currently use on my research travels is so lightweight and compact that most people are surprised I can move around so extensively with just this gear. To put it in perspective, it is as if I were traveling with the same amount of luggage as when going to meet a friend, and yet I continue this journey. Recently, this tendency has grown even stronger. To keep moving while avoiding sudden natural disasters such as torrential rains and typhoons, what matters most is being prepared and mentally ready to move immediately. First and foremost, this depends on optimizing the tools I use to increase my speed of movement. In other words, by optimizing tools, then adapting my mindset and lifestyle accordingly, I see this cycle of trial and error as one of the most essential aspects of modern society.

For example, yesterday when the news announced that a tropical depression had suddenly turned into a typhoon and was landing off Kagoshima, the initial projected path showed it crossing northern Kyushu and then hitting western Japan, Hokuriku, and the Kanto region. Originally, I had planned to take care of errands in Tokyo today and return to Osaka on Friday night, but the moment I saw that projected path, I canceled my Tokyo plans and postponed my return to Osaka until Saturday. After carefully watching the typhoon’s track, I saw that northern Kyushu would be almost unaffected, as the typhoon shifted course toward Oita, Shikoku, southern Kansai, and Kanto, so I decided to stay in northern Kyushu. As a result, yesterday there was only light rain, and today the sky is a pleasant blue, with strong winds but no real impact, allowing me to spend the day comfortably.