Fumio Sasaki - Goodbye, Things: On Minimalist Living

Both of the pictures are of my old apartment. I couldnt throw things away. As you can see, my possessions kept piling up. I lived in this apartment for ten years, and during that time, it seemed like my life had stopped moving forward. That was when I came across the concept of minimalismof reducing your belongings to just the minimal essentials. I went from messy maximalism to life as a minimalist. I said goodbye to almost all my things and to my surprise I found I had also changed myself in the process.

1. Little by little, using techniques Ill cover in , I turned that messy room into a tidy apartment.

2. I got rid of all my books, and even my desk and chair. We call this simple living, rather than minimalist living.

3. Finally, I got rid of my mattress, table, and even my TV. I often feel like Im a Zen monk in training.

1. I used to leave my clothes lying around, which resulted in what you might call a peculiar art-installation feel.

2. I drank beer at my messy table, munched on snacks, and played video games. I gained weight of course. Minimalism helped with that as well!

3. I used to enjoy buying antique cameras and strange lamps at online auctions.

4. My hallway, formerly lined with bookshelves. I collected as many CDs and DVDs as I could, but in the end I didnt really cherish any of them.

CASE 1

FUMIO SASAKI

MODEL APARTMENT FOR A MINIMALIST

CASE 2

HIJI

THE APARTMENT OF A TRAILBLAZER

Hiji is one of the first people who helped spread the minimalist movement in Japan. His simple Zen-like apartment is home to some of the latest gadgets.

PROFILE

Hiji currently works as a securities dealer. A fan of graphic novels and the pop group Momoiro Clover Z, Hiji was one of the first minimalist bloggers in Japan. Blog: Mono o motanai minimarisuto (A minimalist who doesnt own things) at minimarisuto.jp.

CASE 3

OFUMI AND TEE

A MINIMALIST COUPLE LIVING IN COMFORT

Ofumi and her husband threw away a hundred and thirty kilograms worth of possessions when they moved from a seventy-eight-square meter apartment to a forty-four-square meter apartment. They continue to enjoy their favorite belongings while maintaining a minimalist way of life.