danshari

Recently Satoshi sent some boxes from MIL’s to Tokyo

They were filled with photo albums because he just does not have the heart to throw them out which means they also weigh a ton!

The way our apartment building is constructed it is so wonky, I swear the designer was on drugs

I felt so bad for the poor mail dudes that had to carry them up the last 12 steps up to our apartment!

And luckily with some tetris moves, Kat found space for these boxes in our apartment 

After looking through Satoshi’s treasures, I really wanted to keep this vintage Citizen Doraemon watch

and these vintage colored pencils...but decided against it and had Satoshi sell them to a recycle shop

I gave up this coach wallet

I really loved these but they didn’t love me, the buckle would always dig into my foot…ow

And these sketchers always made my feet black

loved these boots

am giving up this coach, I had taken a photo of it after we got broken into, so that I had a record of what valuables I had

Gave up this LV

and this too

Gave up these two Hanshin jerseys because the material is too hot to wear 

got to keep this clear file because the place Satoshi went to sell some of his treasures didn't want it

We still have so much stuff but will continue to clear out more in the coming months...

(yet more) danshari

I donated more things to my mom's church.

Like all these stuffed animals...

Did you have these Koala Me thingies? (top right picture)

They could cling on to things...

And my Hello Kitty "collection"...I think these were from Happy Meals.

Hello Kitty and her boyfriend Daniel.

I know I've written here that I wasn't much of a Hello Kitty fan, guess I was mistaken...oops!

I don't remember if I had to eat separate Happy Meals to get the pair, or if they came together for one Happy Meal...krazy yeah?!

I loved them because they were dressed up in different cultural (bridal?) costumes.

Not all of these Hello Kitty dolls were in pairs though (if you know what year these were from, don't say it out loud, don't want anyone to know how old I am...)

I hope the ones that have pairs will be sold together.

And I hope all will find good homes.

more danshari

More danshari (purging)...my dolls that relatives have given me over the years.

I donated these to my mom's church, since the JCCH refused to take them due to storage issues.

I hope they will find new homes too.

danshari

If you've been wondering what I've been up to.

I've been doing some danshari (purging)... and recently donated a lot of dishes to the JCCH (Japanese Culture Center of Hawaii).

Like my Mom's china.

Apparently, this set made by Meiyo China was often brought by Military Personnel when they returned from Japan.

I remember my relatives in Okinawa mentioning that they tried to visit my Dad when he was at Camp Schwab, but weren't allowed to because they were Okinawan and they didn't speak any English.

The day we brought the dishes to the JCCH, I was disappointed with the lack of enthusiasm we received from the volunteer there.

Still, I hope they will find new homes.

danshari

Today is Bunka no hi (Culture Day), a national holiday here. Thought I should share something "cultural".

The word that is trending in Japan these days is "danshari". It is made up of 3 different chinese characters.

"Dan" also read as "kotowaru" means "refusal", "decline", "refuse to".

"sha" also read as "suteru" means to "throw away".

"ri" also read as "hanareru" means to "separate from".

In other words, danshari means to get rid of things that you keep for those "may need just in case" times or clothes that "you'll wear later when...".

One of the people who have talked about this in Japan says that "things should have a "tokimeki" feeling"...."tokimeki" means that it gives you a kind of "exciting" (happy) feeling.

"If you still have tags on an item you bought, chances are they don't give that "tokimeki" feeling. Because if you really were excited about it, you would take the tags off and be raring to wear it or use it."

And while keeping items packed away in boxes does preserve them, if they mean something to you, you try to use them daily, instead of saving them for a "special occasion"."

Throughout the 10 years we've been in Japan, I've been going through my clothes, as well as other things and getting rid of some of them.

Satoshi on the other hand, has never done this. Well, I'm happy to say that I've FINALLY gotten him to go through his things and get rid of stuff.

Even in Hawaii, we had many gifts we received for our wedding. I had left them behind when we moved to Japan because we didn't know how big a space we would be living in.

On top of that, "we were waiting to use them "when" we bought a house", well, 10 years later, we still don't have a house of our own and it doesn't look like we will, so instead of keeping these items tucked away, I recently gave away a lot of dishes and tableware items to various non-profit organizations...someone should be using them.

It takes some practice to "let go" of things, but once you start, it gets easier.

Oh and the main thing they said to do, is "be sure to "thank" the items you are giving up, as they've worked hard being a part of your life".

I know Satoshi has more things to go through, it will just take a little more time for him to de-clutter.