A very nice walkthrough of Japanese culture and eating habits. I loved the examples and recipes that were given to help people make even small changes in their diet.

"Wa - The Art of Balance" by Kaki Okumura teaches us the way to balance our lives with the four pillars of nourishment, exercise, rest, and socialization. I really enjoyed this audiobook and listened to the whole thing twice!

For Nourishment, she spoke of moderation in all you eat, smaller portion sizes that are used in Japan versus the much bigger ones used in America, and eating to be eighty percent full, not completely full. She also spoke of enjoying local fresh foods and produce as opposed to eating too much processed food.

For the Exercise section, she spoke a finding an exercise you like to do everyday and not trying to work too hard, but instead focus on small amounts of consistent action - maybe even 3 minutes a day, but do it every day. She talked about a type of stretch that was used in Japan but didn't explain it. Perhaps there were pictures in the physical book.
For the Rest portion She recommended decluttering your space and setting up a personally
meaningful altar. There was more about spirituality and she explained how the Japanese word for rest is the combination of symbols of person and tree and the concept of a person sitting with their back against a tree relaxing.
She spoke of going to outdoor nature spaces to find rest and peace.

In the Socialization section, she spoke about how to find friends. First of all you must accept that you are worthy to be friends with. Then just be open to meeting new people and say hello to them. When you have a friend, a combination of kindness to them plus empathy will help establish and continue that connection. Try to anticipate their needs and desires and offer that before you are asked for help.

There were a lot of recipes described which I found difficult to understand without pictures and I don't believe many of the ingredients are available to a majority of people in the U.S.

The narrator, Cindy Kay, did a nice job and had a calm soothing voice.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor Audio for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed the narrator’s voice and style.
This wasn’t the typical “food-health” approach, therefore I learned to look at it in another way.
One of the quotes I related to most “You can clock out of work, but you can’t clock out of health.”
It’s such an important nuance, as we tend to focus more on work than on health.
A sustainable approach with a longtime view to living a healthy lifestyle.

Balance

This was a very good book on various Japanese customs and cultural beliefs.

I thought it was a very interesting book and got a lot out of it.

I do have to say as a Christian myself, a lot of the spiritual and buddhist practices detailed in this book do not exactly follow my own personal beliefs. But, that being, said I was still able to enjoy the meaning behind the chapters and was able to better understand the art of balance in Japanese society.

I also like how the book detailed some of the meanings and literal descriptions of what various sayings are in Japanese and their origin.

Very good cultural read that I would recommend.

3.6/5

The Art of Balance was very interesting. I liked learning about things from the Japanese culture that promote health and well-being. I felt like I did learn some new things. I loved that it speaks of going slowly, hot important rest is and that rest is something that makes us happy and restores us. I also enjoyed the part about how being social is very important to health. Thanks to the author, netgalley and publisher for an advanced audio copy for my honest review. The narrator was great also.

"Wa: Art of Balance" by Kaki Okumura offers an insightful and beautifully illustrated guide to achieving a balanced and healthy life through the lens of Japanese philosophy. The author, drawing from her unique background of growing up in both New York and Tokyo, skillfully blends her understanding of Western sensibilities with deep insights into Japanese culture. The book presents four pillars – Nourish, Move, Rest, and Socialize – as a holistic approach to well-being. Okumura emphasizes the importance of quality sleep, physical activity, mindful eating, and meaningful social connections in fostering overall health and happiness.

The incorporation of Japanese traditions and principles into daily habits, such as Kuchisabishii and Harahachi-bunme, adds a cultural richness to the wellness practices discussed. The three-minute stretch routine and the concept of celebrating movement rather than enforcing it bring a refreshing perspective to fitness. The book is not only informative but also affirming, wholesome, and level-headed, reflecting the author's expertise as a writer, illustrator, and wellness coach. Overall, "Wa: Art of Balance" is a visually appealing and practical guide that transcends cultural boundaries, providing Western readers with valuable insights and actionable steps towards a more balanced and fulfilling life.