Introducing the coolest Japanese phrases, as chosen by the Japanese people themselves.
Get them tattooed, adopt them as your motto, or show them off to everyone!
- 信義(shingi)
- 不屈(fukutsu)
- 覚悟(kakugo)
- 闘志(toshi)
- 飛翔(hisho)
- 黎明(reimei)
- 仁愛(jinai)
- 風雅(fuga)
- 幽玄(yugen)
- 久遠(kuon)
風雅(fuga)
■The Meaning of “風雅(fuga)”
・Refined, elegant, and tasteful
・Not merely “pretty”
Natural beauty + an image that incorporates intellect and spirituality
Examples:
・Tea ceremonies that celebrate the seasons
・Japanese gardens where negative space comes alive
・Karesansui, haiku, and furyu
→ This kind of “effortless beauty” is “風雅(fuga)”
■The Origin of “風雅(fuga)”
Etymology: “Fūryū” (風流) + “Miyabi” (雅)
Fūryū: Elegance. Grace. Also, refined pastimes. Literary and artistic pursuits. Nature, seasons, subtle charm.
Miyabi: Refinement, sophistication, intellectual beauty.
In Japan, these terms have been central keywords for discussing beauty since the Heian period,
particularly deeply connected to aristocratic culture.
