Abstract

This book was written so that, wherever you are, you can return to the version of yourself relaxing in the Okinawan sea breeze. When a gentle sea breeze blows, everyone’s face softens. I wrote these 365 days hoping that simply opening this book would bring you that magical Okinawan wind.

It is said that Okinawa has three gods: the god of the heavens, the god of the earth, and the god of the sea. An elderly man I met on a remote island had a daily ritual. Every morning, he poured plain hot water into three teacups and offered them to the three gods. Because we have the sun, the rain, the land, and the sea, we can live another day. What a wonderful way to begin each day, with gratitude.

A life close to Okinawa’s nature and full of respect for the unseen has always embraced the kind of sustainable cycle that people now talk about in terms of the SDGs. These islands, often called a paradise, also face many serious social problems. Even so, how strong, gentle, and beautiful are the people who live holding tightly to what truly matters.

Throughout this book, I have scattered the “hints for living lightly and with a smile” that I have learned over my 15 years in Okinawa. Because language and customs differ from region to region, this is only the part of Okinawa that I personally have seen. Still, when I share these ideas with readers, friends, and guests, I receive many heartwarming responses, such as “It made me realize what really matters,” “My worries no longer feel like worries,” and “I’ve come to cherish my everyday life.”

Nothing would make me happier than if this book could help make your days shine, even a little. You can read it from the beginning or open it anywhere. Related entries are marked like this: →1/365. You might also enjoy a little game of bibliomancy (fortune-telling by opening a book at random): ask yourself, “What do I need right now?” and take a hint from whatever page you open.

Feel the warm sea breeze as the seasons turn. Let us share the joy of a gentle life connected to the heavens, the earth, the sea, and one another.

(From the author’s introduction)

Author’s Information

Michi Nagamoto
President of Taisetsuna Koto Kenkyujo Co., Ltd. Operates the book hotel “Hamahiga Bettei,” the publishing house “Ehon Studio Akokuro,” and educational programs. After traveling the world in their twenties and later suffering health problems while working long hours at a Tokyo publishing house, Nagamoto moved to Okinawa in 2008. Worked as a magazine editor and newspaper reporter before taking up the current role. Author of more than 10 books, including “Teinei ni Tabisuru Okinawa no Shimajikan” (Savoring Okinawa’s Island Time; Anonima Studio).