Inside Japan's Extremely Minimalist Homes: Photos

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32 photos that show how obsessed Japan is with minimalism

Jacob Shamsian Updated Aug 10, 2018, 12:40 AM
Toothbrushes are seen in the bathroom of the apartment of minimalist Naoki Numahata in Tokyo. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Minimalism is taking over.
Figures like Marie Kondo are becoming famous by spreading the gospel
of throwing (nearly) everything out and keeping just what you need.
The movement is most prominent in Japan, where the influence of Zen

Buddhism instills a desire for simplicity. There, less is more.
There are also practical concerns. It's cheaper to be a minimalist, and

because Japan is regularly beset by earthquakes, it doesn't always make
sense to have a lot of valuable possessions lying around. Nearly half of
earthquake injuries come from falling objects.
Take a look into the sparse aesthetic of minimalism:
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
In Japan, some bedrooms are so stripped down

that they don't even have beds.
Minimalist Katsuya Toyoda demonstrates how he sleeps in his room in Tokyo.

REUTERS/Thomas Peter
What does a minimalist keep in his fridge? Not

much.
The contents of the fridge is seen at the home of minimalist Katsuya Toyoda in Tokyo.
The bathrooms also keep it simple.
The bathroom cupboard of minimalist Fumio Sasaki is seen in Tokyo. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
This one couldn't be more austere. There aren't

any consumerist products in sight.
The bathroom of minimalist Fumio Sasaki is seen in Tokyo, Japan. Influenced by the spare
aesthetic of Japan's traditional Zen Buddhism, these minimalists buck the norm in a fervently
consumerist society by dramatically paring back their possessions. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Sink counters exist to keep stuff on them. All

you need is a toothbrush, and that doesn't
require one.
Toothbrushes are seen in the bathroom of the apartment of minimalist Naoki Numahata in
Tokyo. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
A window ledge can be just as useful as a sink

counter.
A razor and toothbrush lie in the home of minimalist Katsuya Toyoda in Tokyo.
Everything has its place.
Soap sits in a dish at the home of minimalist Saeko Kushibiki in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo.
Just one spoon and one fork is necessary.
Utensils lie in a kitchen drawer in the home of minimalist Saeko Kushibiki in Fujisawa, south of
Minimalist Saeko Kushibiki stores away her

futon mattress in her apartment. Out of sight,
out of mind.
Minimalist Saeko Kushibiki stores away her futon mattress in her apartment in Fujisawa, south
of Tokyo. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Even living rooms are decluttered. The only

furniture items here are a desk and a chair.
Minimalist Naoki Numahata talks to his two-and-a-half year old daughter Ei in their living-room
in Tokyo. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
But sometimes not even a chair.
Minimalist Saeko Kushibiki demonstrates where she reads in her room in Fujisawa, south of
It's all about having only simple objects ...
A kettle sits on a cooker in the kitchen of minimalist Saeko Kushibiki in Fujisawa, south of
... but that doesn't mean they can't be beautiful.
A lamp stands in the home of minimalist Saeko Kushibiki in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo.
The lack of furniture means more space to

stretch out.
Two-and-a-half year old Ei, the daughter of minimalist Naoki Numahata, sits in the family living-
room in Tokyo. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
It's easy to keep your kitchen counter clean if
you don't have much to put on it.
A kitchen counter is seen in the apartment of minimalist Naoki Numahata in Tokyo.

This ceiling lamp is just a plain white circle.
The ceiling lamp is seen in the room of minimalist Fumio Sasaki in Tokyo. REUTERS/Thomas
Peter
Because there aren't many items in the first

place, the ones you need are easy to find.
An open kitchen drawer is seen in the apartment of minimalist Naoki Numahata in Tokyo.
They're easily within reach.
A sponge hangs in the home of minimalist Katsuya Toyoda in Tokyo. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Hanging objects on simple hooks is a clean,

popular storage strategy among minimalists.
Kitchen utensils hang in the home of minimalist Katsuya Toyoda in Tokyo. REUTERS/Thomas
Peter
Part of the minimalist philosophy is keeping

together the objects that belong together.
A yoga mat and shorts are seen in the room of minimalist Katsuya Toyoda in Tokyo.
It's a way to declutter your life ...
Belongings lie in a drawer in the home of minimalist Katsuya Toyoda in Tokyo.

... and your mind.
Clothes hang in the wardrobe of minimalist Katsuya Toyoda in Tokyo. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Each object has its own place and purpose ...
Bowls sit in a kitchen cupboard in the apartment of minimalist Fumio Sasaki in Tokyo.
... but sometimes minimalism means not

owning a mop.
Minimalist Fumio Sasaki uses a wet wipe to clean the floor in his room in Tokyo, Japan,
February 19, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
There's a certain beauty to it.
Cups sit beside the kitchen sink in the home of minimalist Naoki Numahata in his apartment in
Tokyo, Japan, March 4, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
There's nothing to distract you ...
A laptop belonging to minimalist Fumio Sasaki sits on his desk in Tokyo. REUTERS/Thomas
Peter
... and you never need to think about which pot

to use for which dish.
Dishes and pots sit on a shelf in the apartment of minimalist Saeko Kushibiki in Fujisawa, south
of Tokyo. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Windows and decorations don't compete with

each other.
A living room window is seen in the home of minimalist Saeko Kushibiki in Fujisawa, south of
Some scenes are perfect for Instagram ...
Glasses and spices sit on a shelf in the apartment of minimalist Saeko Kushibiki in Fujisawa,
south of Tokyo, Japan, March 31, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
... even in the least likely situations.
Socks belonging to minimalist Naoki Numahata lie on the floor in his apartment in Tokyo.
You get to think of your possessions in a fresh

way.
Glasses and cups sit on a shelf in the apartment of minimalist Saeko Kushibiki in Fujisawa,
south of Tokyo. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
The negative space speaks louder than the
spaces filled with stuff.
Books sit on a bookshelf in the home of minimalist Naoki Numahata in Tokyo.

Jacob Shamsian
Legal Correspondent
Jacob Shamsian is a correspondent on Insider's Enterprise News desk covering
legal affairs and major court cases. He has reported on the criminal trials of
Ghislaine Maxwell, R. Kelly, and Anna Sorokin (AKA Anna Delvey). Prior to his…
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and court decisions, as well as by media outlets including the New York Times,
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HOME YOUR MONEY CONTRIBUTORS

32 photos that show how obsessed Japan is with minimalism

Minimalism is taking over.

The movement is most prominent in Japan, where the influence of Zen

There are also practical concerns. It's cheaper to be a minimalist, and

Take a look into the sparse aesthetic of minimalism:

In Japan, some bedrooms are so stripped down

Minimalist Katsuya Toyoda demonstrates how he sleeps in his room in Tokyo.

What does a minimalist keep in his fridge? Not

The bathrooms also keep it simple.

This one couldn't be more austere. There aren't

Sink counters exist to keep stuff on them. All

A window ledge can be just as useful as a sink

Everything has its place.

Just one spoon and one fork is necessary.

Minimalist Saeko Kushibiki stores away her

Even living rooms are decluttered. The only

But sometimes not even a chair.

It's all about having only simple objects ...

... but that doesn't mean they can't be beautiful.

The lack of furniture means more space to

A kitchen counter is seen in the apartment of minimalist Naoki Numahata in Tokyo.

This ceiling lamp is just a plain white circle.

Because there aren't many items in the first

They're easily within reach.

Hanging objects on simple hooks is a clean,

Part of the minimalist philosophy is keeping

It's a way to declutter your life ...

Belongings lie in a drawer in the home of minimalist Katsuya Toyoda in Tokyo.

... and your mind.

Each object has its own place and purpose ...

... but sometimes minimalism means not

There's a certain beauty to it.

There's nothing to distract you ...

... and you never need to think about which pot

Windows and decorations don't compete with

Some scenes are perfect for Instagram ...

... even in the least likely situations.

You get to think of your possessions in a fresh

Books sit on a bookshelf in the home of minimalist Naoki Numahata in Tokyo.

Features Minimalism Japan More...

Stock quotes by finanzen.net Reprints & Permissions

International Editions: INTL AS AT DE ES IN JP MX NL PL ZA

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Inside Japan's Extremely Minimalist Homes: Photos

Inside Japan's Extremely Minimalist Homes: Photos