Following the international success of Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, Spanish author duo Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles return to Japan for their second book. Titled The Book of Ichigo Ichie: The Art of Making the Most of Every Moment, the Japanese Way, the book offers a guide to making “every moment a once-in-a-lifetime experience”. With influences ranging from traditional tea ceremonies to Buddhism, Garcia and Miralles draw on age-old wisdom to advise readers on how to live in the present.
It’s a lesson worth learning. At a time when our attention is easily diverted by the dings and pings of our smartphones and other devices, being rooted in the moment opens up a world of opportunity. Whether that moment is spent alone or in a room filled with people, Garcia and Miralles provide ways that we can be better company to ourselves and others. In a section titled “Eight Zen Lessons for an Ichigo Ichie Life”, the authors share some valuable teachings. From the obvious “avoid distractions” to the liberating “let go of your expectations”, the average person would do well to take note.
For those with a creative bent, freeing yourself from the woes of the past and whisperings of the future opens the gateway to greater artistic freedom. Art, whether it be a drawing, composition or novel, can only be created when the artist is in touch with their senses. In “Part II” of the three part book, the authors explore the five senses in turn, providing activities and tips to engage with each one. Similar to the sentiments expressed by David Gentlemen in Lessons for Young Artists, Garcia and Miralles champion the benefits of getting out into nature and acutely observing the everyday as a way to hone the senses. For Gentleman, these practices are also a source of creative inspiration.
The book handily concludes with an epilogue, “The Ten Rules of Ichigo Ichie”. Efficiently summing up the messages shared throughout, their existence is a poignant reminder that even a work based on savouring the present can’t escape from pushing self-help mantras to attract our attention.
The Book of Ichigo Ichie: The Art of Making the Most of Every Moment, the Japanese Way - Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles