Haiku & Reflections from Japan: The Art of Intentional Living — Kodawari

Longtime UNS Member, Sharon Meyers, is currently living in Japan for several months. This is a glimpse into her world and journey.

Intent, attention
detail in life, ambition
ever learning, free

Japanese cultural emphasis on painstaking detail can be expressed in a single word: kodawari. Embracing a focused commitment to excellence, kodawari means accepting only the highest standards for oneself, not for notoriety or for recognition, but out of respect for the work, the material and knowledge.

In my studies here, I witness kodawari in every sensei/ master teacher, who shares hard earned experience in perfection that they feel is never truly achieved. Kodawari honors this pursuit as a life of learning, never mastery. It also brings in the element of wabi-sabi/ imperfection, as each human imperfection makes the experience and the piece both unique and delightful, even playful.

What separates these sensei from other professionals is the lifelong dedication to a single practice — shokunin. This commitment to mastery in one’s chosen work of a lifetime centers on humility because they ever strive to improve. My sensei all say they are perpetual students, ever curious to improve.

This makes me reflect on how kodawari manifests in my daily life — the hundreds of decisions that go into the creation of an object that I admire and use, as mundane as the carved chopsticks of intentional octagonal shape that rest comfortably in my hand. And, how this experience of living and learning in Kyoto expands my capacity for curiosity as a lifelong student that will continue.

How can you look more closely at the objects of your enjoyment through the lens of kodawari, and your life journey with open eyed curiosity in always learning?

Arigato,
Sharon