Keeping Japan Mode On
A new mantra for daily intention.
I did not plan to have two Japanese-inspired posts in a row, but things got hectic this week and I’ve had this one sitting in drafts! To run with the theme, I’m publishing two more posts this weekend with favorite food, drinks, and tableware in Tokyo and Kyoto.
After publishing my first post on Substack, a friend texted me some words of encouragement:
The second sentence has become a kind of mantra. Spencer and I find ourselves repeating it daily as a reminder of the level of intention and attention we want to practice.
In the six months since our trip, my morning routine has leaned increasingly Japanese-inspired. Here are the ways I “keep Japan mode on.”
Daily Miso Soup
On Valentine’s Day, Spencer and I took a romantic visit to Dashi Okume in Greenpoint to purchase dashi. I ended up just going with their Classic Dashi bags and have been making daily miso soup in the morning. I boil one dashi bag with 2 cups of water, then dissolve 2 tbsp of miso using a strainer and add seaweed, tofu, scallion.
At their store, you can create your own dashi blend from their ingredient list. It was too busy while we were there, but I am planning another trip.
Breakfast
My weekday breakfast has morphed into a small amount of cooked rice, a soft boiled egg, ponzu, scallion, plum sesame, and a few nori sheets (alongside the miso soup). My Zojirushi Rice Cooker makes this easy. We turn it on the night before and wake up to perfect rice.
Other Ways I “Keep Japan Mode On” Daily
Starting My Day at 6am
One of the biggest differences I noticed between Japan and the U.S. was their practice of intentional silence. Instead of turning on background music while cooking, cleaning, and in transit, I have since relished in periods of contemplative silence. In New York, one of the few times I can truly replicate this feeling is early in the morning. I’ve started waking up at 6am, and it is a change for the better.
This body oil from one of my favorite olive oil companies instantly transports me back to the onsen town of Shuzenji. I slather my entire body in it twice a day. I love it so much I purchased the body wash and roller of the same scent. Rolling it on in the middle of the day instantly grants me perspective within the daily chaos.
Wonder Valley Sandalwood Yuzu Shampoo and Conditioner
The companion shampoo and conditioner by the same brand take me back to the many Yuzu beverages I drank in the unrelenting heat.
In Kyoto, I bought two boxes of this incense produced by the oldest incense house in Japan. I recently learned that it is sold in the museum shop at the Noguchi Museum in Queens (a perfect museum shop). I have been using it sparingly thinking it was not sold in the U.S — game changer!
Daily Sauna
While I don’t have access to a hot spring, I try to replicate the impact of a daily plunge by spending 10-15 mins in the sauna daily. Gym sauna will do!
These new habits have made me think back to other favorite trips or places I’ve been and consider how I can incorporate the elements that resonate into my daily life. Whether that be having a jasmine plant reminiscent of California, or a paying frequent visits to museums like when living in Boston, I want to bring that feeling of being in a place I love into the daily.
I felt rejuvenated just reading about your Japan-inspired daily routines.
Wonderful inspiration! Agree 💯 with the early morning silence!