Overview

Japan's original decluttering guru, Hideko Yamashita, first developed her decluttering method known as Danshari over two decades ago. Danshari is much more than just 'a way to tidy up'. Yes, you'll feel refreshed once your surroundings are in order but that's just the beginning! At its heart, Danshari is about release. It's about removing what no longer serves you emotionally as well as physically. Discarding clutter frees you from outdated beliefs and emotional burdens that are holding you back. The word Danshari literally means 'reduce, release and relieve' or, in other words, lightness, clarity and freedom. This isn't just about throwing out old stuff. It's about creating space in your life for clarity, peace and joy with other people. Whether it's stressing about money, difficult relationships, family expectations or the fear of aging Danshari offers you a way forward! Ms. Yamashita's real-life stories illustrate the life-changing power of Danshari, for example: Kaede went through a traumatic divorce, but was only able to tell her family about it after she had thrown away the old furniture left behind by her ex. Yoko spent three months getting rid of accumulated junk, literally creating a space in her home for a future husband whom she met soon after her house was ready! Sachi spent 20 years accepting gifts of dinnerware from her mother-in-law until her cupboards were overflowing. When she finally managed to throw these items away, her resentful feelings toward her mother-in-law also vanished. And many more true stories of Danshari's power to transform! In a recent New York Times interview, Ms. Yamashita explains how her philosophy differs from that of other decluttering experts, such as Marie Kondo. She says the Danshari method encourages people to think about why they are attached to certain items and to examine the impact old belongings and obsessions can have on their emotional state. 'For me, Danshari is not about tidying up, organising or tossing away things that don't spark joy...It is about returning to a state in which parting with things feels natural.' This is far more than a guide to cleaning up your house. It's a roadmap to a whole new life! 'Meet Japan's original decluttering guru (no, not that one)! Before Marie Kondo stormed into the global consciousness, Hideko Yamashita taught Japan the art of creating tidier spaces.' The New York Times (January 16, 2025)

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Reviews

""Before Marie Kondo captured the world's attention with her exhortations to rid ourselves of items that did not ""spark joy,"" there was another Japanese guru of decluttering. Her name is Hideko Yamashita. And while Ms. Yamashita, 70, has never reached Ms. Kondo's level of Netflix-induced fame, she is widely credited in Japan with spearheading the modern movement of decluttering our homes."" —The New York Times ""Japan's original decluttering queen cleans up your new year…Drawing on a wealth of case studies, [Ms. Yamashita's] book shows how danshari isn't just about tossing away your junk—it's a way of creating space in your life to find peace and joy while enhancing your mental and emotional well-being."" —The Japan Times

Author Information

Hideko Yamashita was inspired by the yogic philosophy of dan-ko (refusal), sha-ko (disposal), and ri-ko (separation) during her student years. Drawing from this, she developed Danshari as a practical, self-help method for decluttering your life-both physically and emotionally. Today, she shares the message of Danshari through her many books, tv appearances, radio, magazine and newspaper interviews, and online media. Her books have sold over 7 million copies and inspired people of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life to transform not only their homes, but their lives. This is her first book in English.

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