When I started out as a tidying consultant, I relied entirely on the « Marie Kondo » brand or KonMari®. I felt like it gave me a certain legitimacy, even confidence, in what I was doing.
From « KonMari Consultant » to « Japanese Tidying Consultant »
However, in recent months, I have started to refer to Japanese-style tidying rather than Marie Kondo to bypass preconceptions about the latter. Being Japanese like her, I share her worldview, including the spirituality that underpins her famous tidying method. In fact, it’s this familiarity that both comforted and moved me when I read her book.
Nevertheless, I’ve observed that this spiritual aspect is often dissimulated in Western media. Sometimes, you even get the impression that the KonMari method is just interior decoration — clean, white, minimalist…
While I understand this communication strategy — spirituality can make this foreign approach even more foreign — I find it unfortunate because it is the key element that makes this approach so different from others. The aim of Japanese-style tidying is to live in harmony with your belongings and home, transforming tidying from a practical act into one of kindness and love. Done with intention, this « chore » rises to an art form.
Each object has a soul and wants to serve its owner
We even believe that an object that exists for 100 years gains consciousness and becomes a y“The Yokai.”kai called tsukumogami (付喪神). This why we should choose them carefully, treat them kindly, and put them back in their place after we use them so they can rest. When its mission with us is completed, we let it go, either to serve someone else or retire.
Moreover, our belongings are our allies, not our enemies. So, instead of searching for what we can get rid of, this approach teaches us to identify what we truly love and makes us feel tokimeki. We let go of the rest with gratitude because even if we don’t keep it, it has shared our life.
In simple terms, the KonMari method codifies Japanese-style tidying, makes it easy to apply, and infuses it with a good dose of joy.
Japan Impact 2024
My mission is to make Japanese tidying better known, including its spiritual side, to spread tokimeki around the world. This is why I am delighted to be invited to Japan Impact 2024, the theme of which is « Y“The Yokai.”kai, » at EPFL in Lausanne from 17 to 18 February. I will give two conferences and two folding workshops in French.
Tokimeki, the essence of Japanese tidying
Saturday, February 17, 2024, 16h00 – 17h30
Surrounding yourself with everything you love is the essence of Japanese-style organizing. Every object has a soul, so choose them carefully, listen to them, and treat them with kindness. More than just a method of organization, Japanese-style organizing is a philosophy of life that leads you toward outer and inner harmony. Come learn how to fill your daily life with tokimeki (sparkles of joy) with a certified KonMari consultant.
Living in Harmony at Home with the Yokai
Saturday, February 17, 2024, 18h15 – 19h45
You probably have Yokai in your home. Whether they are apparent or not, mischievous or benevolent, they are part of your daily life. Come learn how to peacefully coexist with your Yokai. Conference in collaboration with Yasuka Fader (midnight blossom).
Sunday, February 18, 2024, 11h30 – 13:00 et 16h00 – 17:30
I will introduce you to the basics of Marie Kondo's tidying method, followed by folding exercises. You will learn to fold and store your clothes vertically so that everything is visible, accessible, and neat in your wardrobe. Bring clothes to fold (T-shirts, socks, etc.), as well as items you are unsure how to fold.
