What makes a home comfortable?
I don’t believe there is only one answer.
As a professional organizer in Japan, I have worked with more than 2,000 people, helping them organize their homes and create spaces that better support their everyday lives.
Through this work, I have learned that the way we live is deeply connected to our culture, family, environment, and values.
What shapes a Japanese home
Japanese homes have their own unique characteristics. Many are relatively small, and we have developed ways of using limited space efficiently and flexibly.
One idea deeply rooted in Japanese life is mottainai—a sense that it is a shame to waste something that still has value. Growing up in Japan, many of us were taught not to leave even a single grain of rice on our plates. It reflects a respect for food, objects, resources, and the effort behind them.
Along with customs such as removing shoes at the entrance, using one space for different purposes, and living with the changing seasons, this way of thinking continues to shape everyday life in Japan.
Seeing our own homes through other eyes
But what feels completely normal to us may look fascinating—or even surprising—to someone from another country.
And the opposite is also true.
When I lived overseas and when I travel, I often discover ideas about homes and everyday life that are very different from those in Japan. Talking with professional organizers and people from other countries has also made me look at Japanese homes from a new perspective.
Sometimes it takes someone from outside our culture to help us notice what is special about the things we take for granted.
Why I am starting this series
That is why I am starting a “Guest Blog series” on this website.
I would like this to be a place where people from different countries and backgrounds can share their perspectives on home, organizing, culture, and everyday life.
There is no single “correct” way to organize a home. A comfortable home in Japan may look very different from one in Canada, the United States, Europe, or elsewhere. But by learning from one another, we may discover ideas that make our own lives a little easier, richer, and more intentional.
My hope is that this Guest Blog series will become a small bridge between Japan and the rest of the world—a place to exchange ideas about how we live and what makes a house truly feel like home.
Our first guest
Our first guest is Barry McArthur, who has spent many years living in Japan and brings a unique perspective on Japanese homes, culture, and everyday life.
I hope you enjoy seeing Japan—and the idea of home—through another person’s eyes.
Welcome to our Guest Blog series.
