Wabi Sabi: Perfect in Our Imperfections
When Japanese people travel abroad, they often meet foreigners who love Japan. These people may know about kabuki, samurai, noh theater, the tea ceremony, or even ninja. Foreigners may be shocked when they ask Japanese about these traditions and the Japanese person does not know much about them. Imagine the look of surprise when an eager new acquaintance learns that a Japanese person has never seen kabuki in real life!
One CEO of a Tokyo-based pharmaceutical company faced this exact problem. She traveled to India and met people who asked her many questions about Japanese culture. She realized she could not answer all of them. To solve this, she took a class based on the book The Japanese Mind (Davies & Ikeno, 2002). This book helped her explain Japanese traditions clearly and answer common cultural questions.
And one question that foreigners often ask is: What is wabi sabi?
What is Wabi Sabi?
According to a paper, wabi sabi is a Japanese idea and philosophy that “stresses imperfection as the basis for harmony.” This might sound difficult, so let us think in simple words: wabi sabi is the beauty of things that are not perfect, not finished, and not permanent.
The American singer John Legend gives us an easy example in his song All of Me. He sings about loving someone for their “perfect imperfections.” That is very close to the meaning of wabi sabi.
・Wabi sabi celebrates imperfection. A handmade clay bowl with a small crack can be more beautiful than a perfect one made by machine.
・Wabi sabi celebrates impermanence. The red and gold leaves of autumn are beautiful partly because they do not last forever.
・Wabi sabi celebrates authenticity. A rough stone in your garden is beautiful because it is natural, not polished into a balanced, symmetrical shape.
In Living Wabi Sabi, Gold (2004) explains: “You and I are reflections of the perfectly imperfect nature of life itself. Once we make peace with ourselves, imperfections and all, we see that every ounce of success, love, and serenity we can imagine is our birthright.” In other words, wabi sabi is not just about objects; it is also about life, people, and relationships.
What Wabi Sabi is Not
It is important to know what wabi sabi is not. Some people think wabi sabi means laziness or poor quality. This is not true. A badly made chair that breaks when you sit on it is not wabi sabi. Leaving your roof to fall apart is not wabi sabi either; it is simply neglect.
Wabi sabi is about effort, but also acceptance. For example, a wooden table that shows its age with scratches from family dinners is wabi sabi. But a table left dirty and broken because of carelessness is not.
Wabi Sabi Around Us
When you start looking for wabi sabi, you will find it everywhere. It is in the freckles on your friend’s face. It is in the gap between teeth that makes a smile unique. It is in the painful experiences that helped you become a kind and understanding person. It is in the ears that stick out a little, making you memorable. It is in the strands of gray hair that show wisdom and life experience.
Wabi sabi teaches us to see beauty in ordinary life. It reminds us that perfection is not necessary for happiness. Instead, our scars, our aging, our mistakes, and our differences can all be beautiful.
Why Wabi Sabi Matters
For Japanese culture, wabi sabi is more than an idea; it is a way of living. It teaches people to respect nature, accept change, and value honesty. For foreigners, learning about wabi sabi can open the door to a new way of thinking. Instead of always chasing perfection, we can learn to enjoy the natural flow of life.
So, the next time someone asks you about wabi sabi, you can say: It is the Japanese way of finding beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and authenticity. And who knows? Maybe they will start seeing the wabi sabi in their own lives too.
Written by Everett Ofori