Omoiyari: The Japanese Art of Compassion by Erin Niimi Longhurst

Omoiyari: The Japanese Art of Compassion Reviews

• 
  Megan Lougheed

  The most important lesson I have learned from this book (personally) is to have more compassion for myself. I know the book is about empathy for others, but isnt it hypocrite, to give others empathy, without giving it to myself? In this book you learn a lot about the Japanse art of compassion, which we all should include in our lives to give people special moments they wont forget. Every experience should be one to remember.
• 
  Plainqoma

  I always in awe with Japanese culture and manners. Omoiyari is a form of selfless compassion but in this book I think it cover more broad topics in all aspect of our daily life where we can relate to it. Reading this when you want to start anew, refresh start, and celebrating the new year, I think it’s a great book with tips and advices where you and I can incorporate in our life. To change your habits, to be better human, to initiate kindness, to be kind to people and nature. To practice a self love first. I do not agree to some of the points but I did gain a lot from this book. I think it’s a great book to start anew.
• 
  Laine

  vēl viena dizainiski ļoti skaista :)
• 
  sfogliarsi

  Un libro interessante, curioso e particolare.
  Ottimo per conoscere il Giappone, la pratica del tè e tanto tanto altro.
• 
  Puty

  Well, this book is similar to 'Lagom', 'Hygge', and other books about some cultural aspects and wisdoms from a country, and how we can adopt them to improve our lives. This book mostly explains about compassion and empathy that would bring peace and harmony in life. Not only related to human-beings but also with our surrounding and environment.
  
  Decorated with pretty photos of Japan and some practical tips (like how to fold furoshiki, simple origami or make simple dish), I like it and it's a good reminder to have faith and do good in life. However, it's too simple and short to get deeper understanding about Japan as a society. Again, it's a self-improvement book 😊
• 
  Shruti Sharma

  A beautiful book. I picked this one because I love all things Japanese. And this book didn't disappoint me. With beautiful illustrations, designing, typography, quotes, concepts and examples this book kept me hooked till the last page. A must-read if you love Japanese culture.
• 
  Hawraki

  أختم عام ٢٠٢١ بهذه القراءة الرقيقة. الكتاب الذي رافقني في حالات الصفاء الذهني والأيام الهادئة. تتحدث الكاتبة عن المفاهيم اليابانية العميقة في الحياة اليومية، العلاقات، والتعامل مع الغرباء. كما تعرفنا على بعض العادات المحببة لجعل نمط الحياة أفضل. مرفق للكتاب قائمة بالكلمات بالإنجليزية واليابانية وهي تشكل مرجعًا جيّدًا لمتعلمي اللغة الذين يرغبون في تطوير فهمهم عن الأشياء وتوسيع ثقافتهم بما يتعلق بالحياة والحضارة اليابانية.
• 
  Angie

  The concept of compassion as an art was well-executed with the author's personal upbringing. Illustrations are simply beautiful and go well with the content. In my opinion it is definitely a coffee/tea table book.
• 
  Airin Efferin

  Four Stars for the lovely pictures.
  
  I enjoyed learning deeper about the beautiful side of Japanese culture. However, sometimes the author takes a tone that's slightly bossy which turns me off. I react this way because I am in Indonesia, and one of the big issues we constantly talk about here is the atrocities of the Japanese invasion from 1942-1945. It's so much horror.
  
  There are always 2 sides of a certain culture. So I enjoyed learning about the beautiful side from this book.
• 
  Thanh

  Mình thật sự thấy yêu nước Nhật hơn qua từng trang sách. Văn hoá, con người nơi đây có quá nhiều điều thật ngưỡng mộ, học hỏi và trân trọng. Ikigai và cuốn sách này là lời giới thiệu để mình đưa gia đình tới đất nước mặt trời mọc một ngày không xa.
• 
  Lauren

  completion note: “Right book, right place, right time.” A much-needed reminder to take care of the people and things around us.
  
  ★★★★★ | 5.00 stars | RTC
• 
  Jolyn Moh

  This is the second book by Erin Niimi Longhurst but I read this first.
  
  Omoi reflects the concept of thought, the way people think or their feelings, emotions, sentiments or desires. Omoiyari is an extension of this thinking in relation to others - a type of projection. The simplest way to describe it might be to anticipate the needs of others, in an altruistic way that is imbued with empathy without the expectation of reward or anything in return.
  
  Omoiyari is important because, in a larger scheme of things, we need to try to understand perspectives and worldviews that might be outside of or in contrast to our own. Even if we disagree, there is always value in expanding our minds and trying to make sense of things from a different perspective.
  
  I really enjoyed this book. Apart from feeling calm in having the tactile experience of reading it, similar to my review of Japonisme, this book particularly stood out because I realised that I can be more compassionate to myself. For a few years, I have gotten the realisation from the constructive feedback that I have received, "You are too hard on yourself." Yet for a few years, I fumbled, not knowing really how to show more compassion to myself.
  
  Reading this book helped in showing me the ways on how to keep an open mind, how to be kinder not just to myself but to others as well, and in doing so, I will make my environment a better place. It is a timely reminder, especially so in our hustling life, to slow down and show our appreciation.
  
  This book is focused on showing us the Japanese art of compassion and it truly succeeded in doing so with its aesthetic pictures and amalgamation of great design and typography, infused with Japanese proverbs along the way, just like the Japonisme book. A light read for coffee tables, tea time or just before bed.
• 
  Peyton Lam

  It may be biased, but I loved Erin’s first book, A Little Book of Japanese Contentments, and wanted more and that’s exactly what Omoiyari is.
  
  While you do not have to read the first book before you read this book, I would highly recommend both but let’s get into the review of this one: Omoiyari.
  
  Omoiyari dives into the depths of Japanese culture; more specifically the practical and spiritual side of Japanese culture. This ranges from all sorts of important topics such as avoiding waste and cleanliness to things that are more abstract like Harmony, Learning from the Past, Hospitality, and much more.
  
  Omoiyari is complicated to explain since it covers such in-depth emotion and being of self and society but Erin explains each part of the word into chapters that eloquently describe situations, scenarios, and short descriptions that makeup Omoiyari.
  
  You can get significant satisfaction from reading fifty pages, or just reading one. The quality of each page is evident as some pages are dedicated to Japanese proverbs, philosophies, and quotes that enhance each section as you go through the chapters.
  
  I could talk about how wonderful Omoiyari is but it’s best if you get a copy yourself to fully understand just why it’s worth the read.
  
  - beechyoo
• 
  Alice Raffaele

  Non ho trovato molto di nuovo, per quanto riguarda il contenuto di questo manuale, rispetto ad altri titoli analoghi che ho già letto sullo stile di vita giapponese. Avrei dato inizialmente tre stelle, perché il libro è scritto bene, in maniera semplice e chiara, senza troppa ridondanza, e la struttura delle varie parti risulta ordinata. Però la cura editoriale e la veste grafica con le meravigliose illustrazioni e i proverbi meritano di essere valorizzate. I termini in giapponese sono adeguatamente tradotti direttamente nel testo e poi riportati tutti in fondo al libro in un glossario. Ho anche scoperto una delle mie nuove parole preferite, "kokoroire" (che significa fare le cose con sincera dedizione, impegnandosi al massimo e mettendoci il "kokoro", l'intreccio di cuore, mente e anima), e il modo di dire "fugen jikkō" (ossia "fai parlare le tue azioni").
  Per tutto questo, e per il fatto che ormai una parte di me è giapponese e si ritrova in moltissimi dei comportamenti descritti e auspicati (come vorrei essere con me stessa e con gli altri), ecco che le stelle sono diventate quattro. Ma, appunto, è un quattro più soggettivo che oggettivo.
• 
  ⭐ Mỹ Anh 🌙

  ✨ “ Cảm nhận cá nhân “ ✨
  ⭐️ 4/5
  
  Đã lâu mình luôn luôn ngưỡng mộ phong cách sống của người Nhật Bản ( văn minh, tử tế, biết cảm thụ cuộc sống 1 cách tươi đẹp nhất.. ), mình đọc cuốn sách này và mình càng yêu đất nước xinh đẹp đó hơn nữa. Trong sách với những cụm từ Nhật - kèm theo những bài học, lối sống của người Nhật mà mình ngày càng phải học hỏi..Thật sự Việt Nam rất cầnnn noi gương theo đó ! ( mong đất nước mình tương lai cx sẽ có thể “ cảm “ cái lối sống của người Nhật trong người để góp phần làm cuộc sống đầy tình thương, tươi đẹp và hoà bình, phát triển hơn nữa ! ). Những lối sống chỉ bình dị thôi, rất rất bình dị trong cuộc sống..nhưng cực kỳ quan trọng và sâu sắc nếu ta biết cảm thụ nó trọn vẹn ! Sách còn có rất nhiều những hình ảnh xinh xinh ở nước Nhật nè, nên đọc sẽ cực kỳ khó nản và cuốn hơn chút á ( rất hợp với các bạn bắt đầu đọc sách ! )
  
  Yêu đất nước Mặt trời mọc này lắm á !
• 
  Chí Chu

  
  ⭐3.5/ 5 ⭐
  
  Về hình thức, sách có nhiều hình ảnh đẹp giống như tạp chí, dễ đọc cho người mới bắt đầu đọc sách.
  Nội dung sách nhẹ nhàng, đặc biệt phù hợp với người muốn tìm hiểu v�� văn hóa Nhật Bản.
  Phần thích nhất là Omotenashi (Nghệ thuật hiếu khách vô vị kỷ) với những câu chuyện giản dị, đời thường, những hành động ân cần, giúp đỡ dù chỉ là người xa lạ mới gặp lần đầu.
  
  Có lẽ do cách đọc sách của mình mỗi ngày 1 ít và không chú tâm lắm nên cảm giác các chủ đề hơi rời rạc, và không có chiều sâu lắm.
• 
  Amy

  I read the majority of this while waiting for my car to be serviced. You'll learn about the Japanese concept of compassion, which is about anticipating the needs of others and fulfilling those needs, like keeping a clean environment, showing basic manners while in public, not being wasteful, etc. Nicely designed, it's a calming read with some stories about the author and her grandparents. The author is half-Japanese and half-British, so she discusses how both sides of her family show care and respect for one another despite cultural differences.
• 
  Harj D

  Having read 'Japonisme' by the author, I really enjoyed reading 'Omoiyari' and learning more about certain aspects of Japanese culture and how the practices can cultivate compassion and mindfulness. I feel like I learnt a lot having read this and it made me reflect a lot on my own behaviour and of those around me too.
• 
  Ngọc Hân

  Một cuốn sách nhẹ nhàng mang cho mình những giây phút thư giãn thật sự. Qua quyển sách này mình hiểu thêm về văn hóa đặc biệt là cách người Nhật đối nhân xử thế, từ những điều rất nhỏ như cách gói một món quà, cách bố trí nhà cửa, văn hóa Trà đạo và những lễ nghi nghe qua thì có vẻ rất phức tạp nhưng là những thứ không thể thiếu tạo nên nền văn hóa vị tha vô vị kỷ của người Nhật.
• 
  April Dickinson

  Some helpful reminders about anticipating the needs of others and acting selflessly. I liked how the book was organized and it is beautiful, but felt a bit repetitive and I didn’t expect that so much of it would be about material things.
• 
  Genevieve Marie

  I read through this comparing it to similar reads, like The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning or Marie Kondo’s book. I found this one quite a bit less organized. It’s more like a grab bag of Japanese cultural words. Still, it is a beautiful book and would probably make a lovely gift.
• 
  Erin

  The pictures made me feel nostalgic for Japan!
• 
  Nattawut Phetmak

  don't teach anything much, just show random (not so) japanese culture here and there
• 
  Lenny

  Fijn boekje, mooie fotos
• 
  Claire

  This was very interesting. What she says to clear and concise as well as peppered with anecdotes about her life as well