Nippon Note #005: Tsundoku/積ん読

Tsundoku (積ん読) is the Japanese term for the practice of acquiring books but letting them pile up unread. The word combines "tsumu" (積む, to pile up) and "doku" (読, to read), creating a concept that perfectly captures something most book lovers experience but rarely discuss openly. While Western culture often frames this as procrastination or poor planning, Japanese philosophy recognizes tsundoku as a natural and even beneficial aspect of our relationship with knowledge and learning. Like many others, my shelves overflow with books I've bought with the best intentions, creating towering stacks that serve as both inspiration and gentle reproach. But rather than feeling guilty about these unread volumes, I've come to understand that tsundoku represents something deeper: our optimistic belief in future selves and our endless capacity for growth and curiosity.

Core Concepts of Tsundoku:

Mental Benefits and Why You Should Read Those Books:

The truth is, those stacks of unread books aren't failures—they're investments in your future intellectual adventures. Whether you're drawn to that mystery novel, the philosophy book that's been intimidating you, or the memoir gathering dust, each represents a doorway to new understanding. Start with just 15 minutes a day, pick the book that calls to you most strongly right now, and remember that even slow progress through your tsundoku collection is still progress. The goal isn't to eliminate your unread pile entirely (an impossible task for any true book lover) but to create a healthy flow between acquisition and consumption, allowing your curiosity to guide both your buying and your reading habits.

Learn More About Reading and Tsundoku:

What happens when a forgotten industrial island meets visionary philanthropy and world-class art? The answer is Naoshima, a remarkable transformation story that began in the 1980s. This small island in Japan's Seto Inland Sea was once home to copper smelters and faced a declining population as young people left for opportunities elsewhere. Everything changed when Soichiro Fukutake, heir to the Benesse Corporation fortune, established the Fukutake Foundation in 1985 and began an ambitious project to revitalize the island through contemporary art. Today, Naoshima stands as a global model for community regeneration through culture.

Essential Naoshima Island Facts & Why You Should Visit:

In the aftermath of World War II, Toyota faced a crisis that would spark a manufacturing revolution. With limited resources and fierce competition from American automakers, engineer Taiichi Ohno began developing what would become the Toyota Production System (TPS) between 1948 and 1975. Originally called "Just-in-Time production," this integrated approach combined two key pillars: just-in-time delivery and jidoka (automation with a human touch). What started as Toyota's survival strategy became the foundation for "lean manufacturing"—a philosophy that has transformed industries worldwide and redefined how we think about efficiency, waste, and continuous improvement.

Essential Toyota Production System Facts & Global Impact:

“一冊の本は一冊の友達です。”

“A single book is a single friend.”

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Thanks for Reading! See you next week,

The Nippon Note Team