Ichi-go Ichi-e. 一期一会。
Ichi-go, Ichi-e. 一期一会。 It literally means “One moment, One meeting.” It’s a very old term conceptualized by Japan’s celebrated tea master, Sen no Rikyū (1522-1591). It’s come to mean more, though — enjoy, savor, embrace the moment.
A moment in time. Kurama. August 13.
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You may return to that place, or not. You may once again — or many times over — see that friend, that family member, that love again, or not. A particular moment in time, this one in fact, won’t happen again. Ever.* The opportunity to revel in the company of another whom you’re fond of, whom you love, you makes you laugh, who makes you think, who’s just good company, may or may not come again.
Another thought occurs to me, though I’m certainly not the first to think it: I certainly regret things I’ve done, but my greatest regrets, if we’re talking about in terms volume, in terms of regrets-per-year, come from contemplating and lamenting things I didn’t do, chances I didn’t take, moments and opportunities I passed up or passed by, thinking that the time wasn’t “just right” or that I’d be “risking too much” to throw myself into the moment.
Ichi-go, Ichi-e… This moment only comes once.
The only thing perminent is imperminence. Ginkaku-ji. May 2010.
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Natsukashii (懐かしい) is about wrapping oneself in a memory, usually a comforting or joyful or wistful-making memory. Ichi-go Ichi-e, on the other hand, is about wrapping oneself in the present, and about not squandering the present. I would note that one could experience Ichi-go Ichi-e with dear friends, with someone you love, raising a glass to Natsukashii and diving into heartfelt moments reminiscing about times and people who are no more. Also, and shifting back away from the past to the present, and putative future, I take it a little further and say that although the future is anyone’s guess — this coming weekend, next month, next year, ten years from now — it’s almost a sin against oneself to squander a joy that’s imminent by putting it off til some undetermined “future date.” That’s not to say don’t plan, don’t work, don’t dream, or never delay gratification. It can, however, be regretful, tragic even, to fail to savor the Sacred Now. We see it so often – people postponing today or tomorrow’s joy until some amorphous “someday” (where the “gold ring” of wealth, love, status, or acquisition will make “everything right”), only to have that “someday” never come, or even if it comes, knowing to a certainty that so many good moments never occurred in the mean time. Joy wasted. Joy discarded. What a shame.
Ichi-go Ichi-e.
Savor the moment. Know it’s a unique moment. Don’t squander it. Revel in it.
Kinosaki Onsen. September. Some years ago. . .
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About to enter a friend's home. Kyoto. August 12.
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A couple sharing tea, and a moment. Kurama. August 13.
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In the moment. Rub a Dub Reggae. Kyoto. November 2009.
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Field trip at Kinkakuji, Kyoto. 2010. Tomorrow they'll be 40. ...
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Girlfriends in the moment. Kyoto. May 2010.
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Friends saying "Til next time!" Kiyamachi. Kyoto. May 2010.
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Sharing a moment with cormorants. Cliff. The Pacific. Hitachi. 2008.
Ichi-go Ichi-e.
One moment, One meeting. . . . Never again will this point in time come.
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*Unless one subscribes to Tralfamadorian philosophy, or to Nietzche’s theory of re-occurring lives ( “Great. That means I’ll have to sit through the Ice Capades again.” Woody Allen in “Hannah and Her Sisters” ).
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Wow now you are making me miss Japan Richard. Simply beautiful. Words, sentiments and images.Really enjoyed this.
Thank you my friend. As you can tell, it really comes from the heart. I’ve been in a bit of a reflective mood over the past 48 hours — reflecting on the need to cherish the Moment, and reflecting on the sadness of (or sad state of things generated by) those who don’t, or won’t.
Selah…
You take care.
R.
一期一会について読みながら、懐かしい感じですよ。どういう意味ですか？ 前世で日本人だったかと。
Both concepts would seem a bit foreign to most Americans. 懐かしいwould be seen as maudlin; 一期一会 would seem like laziness if it didn’t have to do with embracing the moment to make a dollar.
Well, I must respectfully disagree.
I’ve known both terms for more than 25 years and have taught both to countless American friends. I’ve never met one who did not embrace either word / concept. At least from a general, “Yes, that’s a good point/idea” standpoint.
Natsukashii is merely a word that describes a feeling that everyone feels; it transcends cultures. The Japanese language just happens to have a (wonderful) word for it.
Ichi-go Ichi-e is something like that, but, in its way, an admonishment, too. I’ve never known an American, especially during a happy event, to not say, “Yes, that’s true. That’s true.” Now whether or not the concept is actually practiced as a day-in, day-out, personal philosophy or mindset, well, that’s a different story. But it’s up to the individual.
R.
wonderful post!
i’ve linked to this at firefly-dreaming
http://www.firefly-dreaming.com/showComment.do?commentId=33256
Dear Ria,
How kind of you. Thank you. I’ll be visiting very soon (later today).
You’ve made my day and it’s not even 8:00 a.m. where I now sit.
R.
This is why I enjoy your blog. There are so many blogs about Japan which are all good but all fast-forward on the pop culture, which I AM a big fan of but nevertheless I appreciate there is a different side to Japan.
Your blog is unique both in content and in connection to you as a person. Thanks.
Thank you, Rbt.
I’ve always wanted this place to be more than just a Pop/Travel/Photo blog. Those elements are definitely part of what LetsJapan.wordpress is, but I want it to be a bit deeper than that, too. It’s feedback and encouragement like yours that continues to urge me on down the road to make this meaningful (and of course, enjoyable) to those who visit.
Thank you again,
R.
This is a wonderful blog.
I have one on basically similar subject matter -but this puts me to shame …Nice One !!
Thank you so much. Really. And I appreciate your comment and insights (scary though they were) on that other post of mine. Looking forward to seeing you around. Please feel free to share this, any of these posts / galleries / stories if or as you see fit to.
All the best to you,
R.
Beautiful! I am so pleased to find your blog. From the philosophical musings to the craft beer review, the work is appreciated from start to finish!
Gerry,
Thank you so much for your kind words. I certainly invite you to navigate around (going back into the archives — most pieces are not “dated” or time-bound; checking out the Galleries, reading the Stories if/when you feel so inclined). Also, if you have a particular issue, angle, topic you want me to work up and post, please never hesitate to tell me. If I can do, I will.
Kind regards and e-see you around,
R. Newton
Holy shit, looking at these images really made me think “natsukashii”… I’ve been to most of these places in winter 2009/10 and again in summer 2010. I have almost the same picture from Kinkakuji with some japanese schoolkids who wanted to get photographed together with us gaikokujins. I was in Kurama for the Kurama-no-hi. I walked down Kiyamachi-dori countless times. And a friend of mine lived in a house of which the entry looked remarkably similar to that picture you took. And I was at Ginkakuji in August 2010 and took a picture quite similar to yours.
This is not only natsukashii, this is also quite a bit spooky… I guess even the japanese don’t have a word for the feeling I’m getting at this moment
-Michael