Japanese tidying is an approach based on the idea of living in harmony with your belongings. Each item has a soul; we should choose them carefully, treat them with kindness, and store them in their place so they can rest. By letting go of what no longer serves us, we can better enjoy the present moment and stir stagnant energy. Much more than just a tidying method, Japanese tidying is a philosophy of life. By allowing ourselves to be surrounded only by what we truly love, we can begin to free ourselves from objects (and much more) without guilt. By learning to care for our belongings, we also learn to care for ourselves.

I am convinced that this method can adapt to everyone according to their own definition of tokimeki, or the spark of happiness. The only condition is to be open to a transformation of both your space and your lifestyle.

Marie Kondo is a Japanese tidying expert who gained worldwide fame with her book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (2011). Her books have been translated into 40 languages and have sold over 10 million copies. She is the star of the hit Netflix series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. Her name in Japanese is Kondo Marie, or "KonMari" for short.

The KonMari method is Marie Kondo's approach to tidying. The guiding principle is to surround yourself with items that spark joy. Simply put, the KonMari method codifies Japanese tidying, makes it easy to apply, and infuses it with a generous dose of happiness.

In short: no. The goal of minimalism is to drastically reduce the number of items you own, while the KonMari method is guided by tokimeki or "the spark of joy." For example, rather than choosing the three pairs of socks to keep, you are encouraged to keep all the pairs that you truly love and let go of the rest with gratitude. Often, people end up getting rid of a large portion of their belongings simply because they realize they don't feel tokimeki for them.