The custom of gazing at cherry blossoms from March to May is called hanami, or 'flower viewing', and it urges spectators to appreciate the beauty of the flowers while keeping in mind their transient nature. This ritual is said to have started in the 8th century and has now spread all over the world where cherry blossoms sprout. Hanami is just one of many Japanese practices and philosophies that have captured the imagination of people worldwide.

With the explosion of books like 'Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life', more and more people are now familiar with phrases like wabi-sabi, kintsugi and kaizen. Read on for five more Japanese concepts that will help you live with more mindfulness, gratitude and acceptance.

Mono no aware 物の哀れ

This concept calls us to pay attention to the impermanence of life. It is literally translated as 'the pathos of things' and encourages the appreciation of the world around us and how it will all fade away sooner or later. This bittersweet feeling is felt when we observe the changing of the seasons, the phases of the moon, the presence and absence of our dearest ones, even the birth and death of our companion animals or the blooming and wilting of a flower – mono no aware grounds us in the here and now with gratitude.

Shikata ga nai 仕方がない

This Japanese phrase relates to accepting our life as it is and working with the reality of things. It it similar to the English idiom 'it is what it is' and offers a way to cope with stressful events. Much like the Stoics who advocated for being mindful of the things we have under our control and not waste time worrying about what we can't control, shikata ga nai calls on us to understand and accept our limits while recognising the ways we can effect action and change, however small.

Mottainai もったいない

This phrase is rich with many meanings. Mottainai primarily exhorts people to be vigilant in not wasting food, items and other materials. It also invokes a feeling of humility when we feel undeserving of gifts or compliments given to us by senior or elder individuals. Yet another meaning refers to something or someone being too good for us, for instance, if we buy something expensive and don't wish to use it for fear of deteriorating or dirtying it, like a perfume bottle. At its core, this phrase asks us to respect the items we buy and consume, and use them in a truly sustainable manner.

Oubaitori 桜梅桃李

'Comparison is the thief of joy' is a well-known English idiom but its Japanese equivalent is arguably more beautiful and serene. The four kanji characters for oubaitori stand for four blossoms: cherry, apricot, peach and plum. These spring flowers bloom at their own pace and bring out their distinctive features without threatening the rest. Hence, this philosophy encourages people to stop comparing their own lives with that of other people's. Instead, we should be glad for others and focus on living our own life and making it fulfilling.

Datsuzoku 脱俗

This is an aesthetic design principle that is all about deviating from the norm and finding freedom. Our daily lives are routinised down to the minute which often leaves us wondering whether our lives will simply be an endless loop of sleeping, eating, exercising, caregiving and working. Datsuzoku pushes us to break out of our routines by having new experiences, such as cycling to work instead of taking the car or living like a tourist in one's own city; taking advantage of opportunities such as trying out a new activity or joining a local club; and exploring new ways of being in the world, such as by travelling to new places, foraging one's own food, and navigating a city without GPS.