Decluttering(a): Self-Cultivation by Subtraction

Decluttering: Self-Cultivation by Subtraction

『整理是门好修行』

In recent years, a Japanese home organizing movement based on subtraction has made big inroads into Taiwan. In Japan, one can find certified organization specialists and full-fledged organizing curriculums, as well as a never-ending stream of books and television shows on the subject. In Taiwan, meanwhile, the Japanese book Danshari, which provides a systematic and theoretical basis for decluttering, has proved hugely popular, and the word that serves as its title has entered the popular lexicon.

   Japan often sets trends for Taiwan. Will the self-help organizational philosophy transform Taiwan as well? Should Taiwanese, who are by nature shopaholics with a deep attachment to our possessions, adopt this severe method of domestic self-restraint?

   Now 56, Japanese national Mitsuko Azuchi, who speaks fluent Chinese, came to Taiwan for her job 10 years ago. Here she met and married a Taiwanese man. They have had a blessed and beautiful life together, except for one little problem that rankled her from the first day that she moved in with him. "I never would have expected it from someone so capable and gentle-natured, but he simply had acquired too much junk, so that no matter how much I cleaned the place, it was always a mess,?Azuchi said.

   What's more, every time she asked her husband to help straighten up and get rid of some of the clutter, he would always use the excuse of being too busy, or that he was too attached to the objects, or tell her that the things might be useful in the future. Azuchi's husband was never willing to part with much of anything. About three years ago, his overflowing clutter had begun to feel oppressive, and Azuchi exploded, delivering an ultimatum, "It's me or your stuff. What's your choice?"

整理是门好修行

近年，强调『减法』为要领的居家整理风潮，从日本吹到台湾；在日本，早有给一般人上的完整整理课程与领有证照的整理师，相关书籍与电视节目更源源不绝，近年一本从日本红到台湾的整理书《断舍离》，更赋予整理系统化及理论化的基础，而这个被当作书名的用语更成为了流行的词汇。

日本常常是台湾的『前车之鉴』。这套自我修练的人生整理哲学，会不会也将转化台湾？而『惜物』又『爱买』的我们，是否该采用这套严格的居家自我约束办法？

现年 56岁、说得一口流利中文的日本人安土美津子，10年前因工作外派到台湾的机缘而嫁给台湾郎，家庭幸福美满，却有一件小事，令她从踏入夫家第一天起就耿耿于怀：『实在想不到，工作干练、个性温柔的他，东西竟然那么多，即使我努力打扫，家里却总是凌乱又黯淡。』

更甚者，每次安土请先生动手清理一下，对方总以忙碌为借口，或表示『舍不得』、『好可惜』、『以后还能用』，迟迟没有动静。大约 3 年前，家里满溢的物品终于压得安土喘不过气来，她气炸了并给先生最后通牒：『要选我还是你的东西，快做决定？』