Jackson School of International Studies, UW

Japan’s Traditional Lifestyles: Reflections in 2001

Traditional lifestyles in the centuries preceding Japan’s industrialization were forged in the turbulent years of civil war in the 16th century, and during the peace following unification in 1600. Despite a growing population, three major famines, and limited land and resources, the economy grew, and the Japanese developed a simple and ecological lifestyle that was also aesthetic and healthful. This lecture will examine how the Japanese created this lifestyle and reflect on what we might learn from them in our own tumultuous times when we too are faced with environmental, economic, and security concerns.