Kaizen is a Japanese term meaning “change for the better” or “continuous improvement.” It is the Japanese business philosophy of continuously improving operations. Kaizen sees improvement in productivity as a gradual and methodical process. The kaizen concept asserts that there is no perfect end. Everything can be improved upon, and all employees must strive toContinueContinue reading “改善 (kai-zen) “continuous improvement””
Tag Archives: 書道アート
放 (hanasu) “let go”
Freedom is found in letting go of desires, attachments, opinions, and other burdens which no longer serve us. The more we let go into grace, the more we gain. Living freely, without grasping. Each moment is enough, just as it is.
幽玄 (yuu-gen) “beauty in the unseen”
Beauty can be found not only in what is shown directly, but also in what is unseen, half-seen or suggested. It’s the hidden meaning in a haiku poem, the elusive figure only half visible in a Hiroshige woodblock print, the subtle line in a calligraphy work, or the faint shape of Fuji-san just visible throughContinueContinue reading “幽玄 (yuu-gen) “beauty in the unseen””
七転八起 “fall down 7 times, get up 8 times”
七 = seven 転 = fall down 八 = eight 起 = get up In other words, “fall down seven times, get up eight times”, or “even if you fail a lot, don’t give up!” In life and in business you will almost certainly fail many times. Encountering setbacks is inevitable, and those who succeedContinueContinue reading “七転八起 “fall down 7 times, get up 8 times””
Calligraphy works for sale!
In Japan, calligraphy works of meaningful characters or phrases are displayed in homes, offices, temples and dōjōs as decoration and to provide inspiration. If you would like to own some Japanese calligraphy artwork to display in your home or office, check out my Etsy site for a selection of ready-made calligraphy works. Below is aContinueContinue reading “Calligraphy works for sale!”
道 (dō) “Way”, “Route”, “The Tao”
This is the “-dō” in the Japanese martial arts of judo, kendo and aikido, as well as shodo (calligraphy), sado (tea ceremony) and many others. Loosely translated, it means “way”, “route”, “path” or “doctrine”. Studying a Japanese art is considered similar to taking a journey up a mountain. The summit is the refinement of oneself,ContinueContinue reading “道 (dō) “Way”, “Route”, “The Tao””
陰陽 (in-yo) “Yin and Yang” ***free wallpaper!***
Yin is dark, cold, receptive, magnetic. Yang is light, hot, giving, active. Both are present in everything. Day is Yang, Night is Yin. But during an active Yang day, one will have periods of still, receptive Yin rest. Yin/Yang is an important concept in Japanese art. In calligraphy, outward brush-strokes are Yang and should beContinueContinue reading “陰陽 (in-yo) “Yin and Yang” ***free wallpaper!***”
気 (ki) “spirit”, “energy”
Japanese martial arts practitioners often give a loud quick shout as they perform an attacking move. This shout is a 気合 (ki-ai), often translated as “meeting of spirit”. This ki is the ki in aikido, qigong, and reiki. Ki is a central principle in traditional Chinese medicine and Eastern martial arts. It has been translatedContinueContinue reading “気 (ki) “spirit”, “energy””
日進月歩 (nis-shin-gep-po) “slow and steady progress”
This Japanese phrase is a 四字熟語 (“yo-ji-juku-go”), a 4-character idiom. The characters in this 4-character idiom are: 日 sun or day 進 continue 月 moon or night 歩 walk or step = continue, step by step, every day and night. This is often how I feel when I’m learning Japanese. Progress is so slow, butContinueContinue reading “日進月歩 (nis-shin-gep-po) “slow and steady progress””
一生懸命 (is-shou-ken-mei) “with utmost effort”
Japanese learners will no doubt be familiar with this one. This is the first yo-ji-juku-go (Japanese 4-character idiom) I ever learnt, and for ages I wasn’t aware of it being an idiomatic expression at all. It’s presented in Japanese textbooks as being a regular adjective with a meaning of something like “with utmost effort”. However, it isContinueContinue reading “一生懸命 (is-shou-ken-mei) “with utmost effort””
Calligraphy by Vicky 