Japan's Oosouji (the Big Cleaning): A Handy Guide
Happy New Year - and welcome back to Made in Japan's Journal. Here you'll find a wealth of Japanese-inspired articles, including interiors tips, wellbeing guides, product recommendations and more.
The Japanese Practice of Oosouji - but what is it?
Today on the Journal we're focusing on Japan's 'Oosouji', aka 'the Big Cleaning'. But what exactly is it? It's a mindful and significant ritual which sees the Japanese declutter, reorganise and clean their space ahead of the big countdown to the New year.
Deeply embedded in the country's culture, the practice of Oosouji sees people prepare homes, offices and temples ahead of a new year, saying goodbye to the old and, in its place, welcoming good fortune to any given space.
It' isn't just adopted in Japan, though. Many practise these principles around the world - and we're sure you, whether you incorporate them into your new year's or year-round regime intentionally, utilise some Oosouji rituals of your own.
If you're anything like our friends in East Asia, you won't wait until January to kickstart a big declutter. Instead, you'll clear out anything you're no longer using and embark on a big clean - Oosouji-style - before the end of December.
That said, the run up to December 25 is always full-on, so we say there's absolutely no reason why you can't take some Oosouji teachings into the first month of the year if you'd prefer.
So, how can you get started?
That really depends on what's most important to you, whether that be a clean and tidy workspace, a newly refreshed living room, or a sparkling bathroom.
Start in the room which bothers you the most and you'll soon find - once you set eyes on the end result - you'll have the energy and motivation to whip your whole home or office into shape.
Feeling inspired? Here are some products we love...
Want to recreate the minimalist aesthetic you see in so many homes? The Japanese are great fans of keeping things simple - and, with that in mind, we think you'll love these bath towels as much as we do.
The squeaky clean feeling of the YUKINE towel comes from a refined method called Atozarashi - a regional process which removes starch and natural impurities from the cotton after weaving. This enhances the towel's absorbency - and the YUKINE undergoes this process not once but twice to maximise the cotton's ability to absorb water.
With a stunningly simple design, these premium quality towels offer the perfect way to add new life to your bathroom or en suite.
When it comes to cleaning, Homes and Gardens suggests you begin by 'dusting ceilings, fans, and light fixtures, then move down to walls, surfaces and floors.' Next, work on 'often-overlooked areas, such as corners, vents and windowsills'.
Keen to create a more orderly kitchen? Once you've done just that, why not add a pop of colour to your space in the shape of this beautiful two-tone dishcloth?
Available in a range of colourways, these dishcloths features an eight-layer weave that increases water absorbency and durability. Soft and breathable - and therefore much quicker to dry - they're the perfect accompaniment to your new year's cleaning regime.
But don't stop at decluttering the inside of your house...
...now it's time to tackle your garage, shed and any other outbuildings, and we reckon there isn't a more stylish solution to organising your tools than with this Tokyo Steel T-190 Toolbox.
The stackable box (again available in a range of colourways) makes organising and storing tools extremely satisfying. In fact, these boxes might be just what you need to convince you to make a start on reorganising the garage. Don't put it off any longer...go!
Made of a seamless single piece of pressed steel, this robust and lightweight container is the ideal storage device - get yours, and a host of other Oosouji-inspired products here on our site. Happy cleaning and decluttering!
Will you be encompassing Oosouji-inspired teachings into your big new year's clean? Let us know by joining the conversation over on Instagram.
Until next time...
