Mottainai: Can we save the planet with ancient Japanese philosophy?
The term expresses a feeling of regret at wasting the intrinsic value of a resource or object, and can be translated as both "what a waste" and "don't be wasteful".
In recent years, the concept of mottainai has been popularised by Japanese and international media, as well as through children's literature and in academia
The four Rs'
Thanks to Wangari Maathai, an accomplished political and environmental activist, mottainai has come to be thought of as an all-encompassing Japanese term for the four Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle and respect.
Japanese scholars and authors insist that the mottainai spirit has been a part of Japanese culture for a long time, especially during the resource-starved post-war period.
Indeed, many Japanese attribute a mottainai attitude to their grandparents. Mariko Shinju illustrated this very attitude in her children's book Mottainai Grandma.
“Our parents told us what mottainai is so we know what it means. But if we don't teach them to our children, they don't learn," she says.
Mottainai Grandma was published in 2005, which was the same year Maatthai first introduced it to the world.
All objects have a spirit
According to Yuko Kawanishi, mottainai also has ties with Shinto animism, the idea that all objects have a spirit — or kami
The idea that we are part of nature and should maintain a harmonious relationship with nature is a deep part of Japanese psychology.
Not only does nature find itself imbued with kami, Shinto also celebrates the spirituality in man-made objects
Mottainai attempts to communicate the inherent value in a thing and encourage using objects fully or all the way to the end of their lifespan.
Leave no grain of rice in your bowl; if a toy breaks, repair it; and take good care of everything.
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