The Way of Nagomi by Ken Mogi Summary

The Way of Nagomi by Ken Mogi explores the Japanese philosophy of balance and harmony in everyday life. The book teaches readers how to achieve nagomi—a state of peace, emotional balance, and wellbeing—through accepting life's fluctuations and blending different elements harmoniously. Mogi covers topics including relationships, food, health, creativity, lifelong learning, and nature, drawing wisdom from Japanese history and culture to help readers find calm in an ever-changing world.

The Way of Nagomi is ideal for readers craving calm, fighting burnout, or seeking greater equanimity in their lives. This book appeals to anyone interested in Japanese philosophy, mindfulness practices, or practical approaches to achieving work-life balance. It's particularly valuable for those who've explored ikigai and want to deepen their understanding of Japanese wisdom traditions, as well as individuals struggling to maintain harmony in relationships despite disagreements.

The Way of Nagomi offers a fresh complement to conventional self-help by emphasizing harmony and balance over pure self-improvement. Publishers Weekly praised the book as "insightful" with "wisdom abounds in this sage outing". The philosophy provides practical applications across multiple life areas—from food and creativity to relationships and nature—making it accessible and immediately useful. Ken Mogi's neuroscience background combined with cultural insights creates a unique perspective that resonates with modern readers.

Ken Mogi is a Tokyo-based neuroscientist, writer, and broadcaster who has published over thirty papers on cognitive science and neuroscience. He has written more than one hundred books in Japan covering popular science, essays, criticism, and self-help, with total sales approaching one million copies. Mogi is also the author of the bestselling book Awakening Your Ikigai, which The New York Times Book Review called "quite a delightful look at sometimes mystifying Japanese traditions".

Nagomi is a Japanese concept with no direct English translation that represents a state of balance, comfort, and calm of the heart and mind. Ken Mogi defines nagomi as "all about the blend and balance of different factors," sharing the same kanji character as "wa," meaning harmony. Unlike passive acceptance, nagomi is an active philosophy that involves care and reconciliation of different elements. It encompasses emotional balance, wellbeing, and a sense of ease achieved through integrating life's diverse components.

The Way of Nagomi outlines five foundational pillars:

• maintaining happy relationships with loved ones even during disagreements
• learning new things while staying true to yourself
• finding peace in whatever you're doing
• mixing and blending unlikely components to strike harmonious balance
• gaining greater understanding of Japanese philosophy

These pillars provide a practical framework for achieving nagomi across different life domains. Ken Mogi emphasizes that each pillar interconnects to create holistic balance rather than isolated improvements.

Ken Mogi uses food as a primary example of nagomi, particularly through sushi—where fresh fish, rice, wasabi, and sake blend into a perfect harmonious bite. The book explores how Japanese cuisine balances five tastes: sweet, salt, sour, bitter, and umami to achieve nagomi. Mogi discusses cultural examples like ki no bi gin, which harmonizes Japanese flavors with European spirits, and katsu curry, which reconciles Japanese and foreign tastes. Food demonstrates how mixing common and unfamiliar elements creates satisfying balance.

The Way of Nagomi teaches readers to maintain happy relationships with loved ones even when disagreeing by embracing balance over confrontation. The book emphasizes negotiating between personal happiness and social obligations—concepts called giri and ninjo in Japanese culture—to attain inner peace. Ken Mogi explains that nagomi helps create harmony in relationships by accepting different perspectives and finding common ground rather than forcing agreement. This philosophy encourages emotional balance and understanding across differences.

While ikigai focuses on finding your life's purpose and reason for being, nagomi emphasizes achieving balance and harmony in the present moment. Ken Mogi wrote about both concepts in separate books, with Awakening Your Ikigai preceding The Way of Nagomi. Ikigai asks "what gives your life meaning," whereas nagomi asks "how can you achieve peace and balance now". Both philosophies complement each other—ikigai provides direction while nagomi offers the harmonious approach to pursuing that direction.

The Way of Nagomi presents lifelong learning as highly valued in Japanese culture and essential for becoming a better person. Ken Mogi introduces sodoku, a traditional method of reading classic texts aloud to stimulate curiosity and continuous learning. The book emphasizes balancing the wisdom of age with the insights of youth, showing how learning keeps individuals engaged while staying true to themselves. Mogi argues that curiosity and continuous growth are fundamental to achieving and maintaining nagomi throughout life.

• "Nagomi is all about the blend and balance of different factors" encapsulates the core philosophy of harmonizing life's diverse elements.
• "The only permanence in this world is change" reflects Japanese acceptance of life's transience and the importance of adapting gracefully.
• "Nagomi is a state of human consciousness characterized by a sense of ease, emotional balance, well-being, and calmness" defines the mental and emotional dimensions of achieving harmony.
• The closing wish "May the nagomi be with you" emphasizes the universal applicability and personal empowerment this philosophy offers.

The Way of Nagomi addresses contemporary challenges like burnout, work-life imbalance, and the constant pressure to improve oneself. Ken Mogi's emphasis on accepting imperfection while striving for improvement offers a counterbalance to hustle culture and relentless self-optimization. The philosophy helps readers adapt to life's ephemeral nature—what Japanese call ukiyo or "floating world"—particularly relevant in today's rapidly changing environment. By teaching harmony between opposing forces, nagomi provides practical tools for navigating modern complexity with greater calm and resilience.