About

What is Shibumi? Shibumi (渋み) is a Japanese word that refers to a simple or subtle beauty. It can be translated as "elegant simplicity", "effortless effectiveness", or "beautiful imperfection".

Nowadays our lives have become so complicated - going too fast, too stressful, and too high-tech, that we have to actually make an effort to become more relaxed and to create space and harmony around us. It's the only way we can begin to live our lives to the fullest and become the best version of ourselves. Then we'd have more time for our families, hobbies, and everything that makes us truly happy.

When we have our mind, body and surroundings in harmony we will be so much more productive and efficient in our work, in managing the household our children, and our finances.

Where the name comes from

Shibumi comes from shibui (渋い), a word that first meant the dry, slightly bitter taste of an unripe persimmon or strong green tea. Over the centuries it came to mean a kind of beauty that is never sweet or loud: quiet, refined, simple on the surface and deep underneath — the kind of beauty that grows on you. I wrote more about it in What is shibumi?

That is the feeling I want this whole site to have.

From Shibumi Lifestyle to Shibumi Life

This site began in 2023 as a small blog called Shibumi Lifestyle, with posts about decluttering, stress, music and calm living. Over time it grew into something bigger than a lifestyle: a place for Japanese culture, books, travel, the seasons and the small daily practices that make life simpler and more beautiful. So the name became shorter — Shibumi Life — because life itself is imperfectly beautiful.

What you'll find here

• Zuihitsu (随筆) — essays and notes, "following the brush": Japanese aesthetics, home, balance, music and mindful habits.
• The Library — personal reviews of books that carry the spirit of shibumi, one new book every month.
• Journeys (旅) — slow travel to places where shibumi still lives, and local guides to Japanese and Asian places in the cities I know, starting with Antwerp, where I live.
• The Calendar (暦) — a year of celebrations across Japan and East Asia, with a new origami fold and a new haiku every week.
• The Academy and Shibumi Life Press — courses and books, coming when they are ready, not before.

The red seal

At the end of every article you'll see a small round red seal with two characters: いな — Ina, my name. In Japan, a personal seal (hanko) is how you sign what you stand behind. Everything with that seal is written and chosen by me.

What Shibumi Life is not

It is not a list of "10 cheap things to do in Tokyo", and it is not trying to sell you a perfect life. When I recommend a book, a place or a product, it is because it earned its place. Some links are affiliate links, and paid partnerships in the local guides are always marked as sponsored.

Shibumi Life is truly my passion project, gaining more and more traction each day. I hope you enjoy my site and all of the unique content I offer. Take a look around; perhaps you’ll discover what exhilarates you as well. Are you ready to be inspired?

Write to me — I read every message.