555 Quotes by Japanese authors

Japanese sayings and literature speak in a quiet register, where a pause can hold more weight than a proclamation. Themes of impermanence, restraint, and renewal surface through seasons, simple objects, and the play of light and shadow. Insights arrive like a tea’s aftertaste: modest, lingering, precise. There is solace in imperfection, courage in endurance, and harmony found between people and place. Imagery of rain on stone, the last plum blossom, a repaired bowl; a language of care that favors suggestion over display.

See the complete list of authors from Japan

"Do nothing which is of no use"

Miyamoto Musashi, Soldier

"When I design buildings, I think of the overall composition, much as the parts of a body would fit together. On top of that, I think about how people will approach the building and experience that space"

Tadao Ando, Architect

"Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye"

Miyamoto Musashi, Soldier

"Video games are bad for you? That's what they said about rock-n-roll"

Shigeru Miyamoto, Designer

"A military man can scarcely pride himself on having smitten a sleeping enemy; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one smitten"

Isoroku Yamamoto, Soldier

"Man is a child of his environment"

Shinichi Suzuki, Musician

Small: Shinichi Suzuki

"Is someone different at age 18 or 60? I believe one stays the same"

Hayao Miyazaki, Director

"A flower falls, even though we love it; and a weed grows, even though we do not love it"

Dogen, Leader

"Nevertheless, China was unfortunately unable to understand Japan's real position, and it is greatly to be regretted that the Sino-Japanese War became one of long duration"

Hideki Tojo, Soldier

Small: Hideki Tojo

"There is nothing you can see that is not a flower; there is nothing you can think that is not the moon"

Matsuo Basho, Poet

"When reflecting upon it today, that the Pearl Harbor attack should have succeeded in achieving surprise seems a blessing from Heaven. It was clear that a great American fleet had been concentrated in Pearl Harbor, and we supposed that the state of alert would be very high"

Hideki Tojo, Soldier

Small: Hideki Tojo

"Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home"

Matsuo Basho, Poet

"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought"

Matsuo Basho, Poet

"Although I am basically self taught, I consider Debussy my teacher - the most important elements are colour, light and shadow"

Toru Takemitsu, Composer

Small: Toru Takemitsu

"Give the peasants neither life nor death"

Ieyasu Tokugawa, Statesman

"If you give people nothingness, they can ponder what can be achieved from that nothingness"

Tadao Ando, Architect

"When you look at Japanese traditional architecture, you have to look at Japanese culture and its relationship with nature. You can actually live in a harmonious, close contact with nature - this very unique to Japan"

Tadao Ando, Architect

"It goes without saying that when survival is threatened, struggles erupt between peoples, and unfortunate wars between nations result"

Hideki Tojo, Soldier

Small: Hideki Tojo

"The reason was the failure of both Japan and China to understand each other and the inability of America and the European powers to sympathize, without prejudice, with the peoples of East Asia"

Hideki Tojo, Soldier

Small: Hideki Tojo

"With love and patience, nothing is impossible"

Daisaku Ikeda, Writer

Small: Daisaku Ikeda

"The value of life can be measured by how many times your soul has been deeply stirred"

Soichiro Honda, Businessman

"I feel however, that we architects have a special duty and mission... (to contribute) to the socio-cultural development of architecture and urban planning"

Kenzo Tange, Architect

"Obviously, the difference between a game and actual training is you're using your whole body, so in that sense, maybe not, although maybe something to do with reaction, the speed of reaction, maybe that was of use during the training"

Chiaki Kuriyama, Actress

Small: Chiaki Kuriyama

"The Japanese keenly learned from Western civilisation in a bid to modernize and preserve the nation"

Akihito, Statesman

"Living in Europe, I was surprised to find out just how little everyone knows about Japan"

Hidetoshi Nakata, Athlete

"There was another life that I might have had, but I am having this one"

Kazuo Ishiguro, Author

"I would like my architecture to inspire people to use their own resources, to move into the future"

Tadao Ando, Architect

"You cannot simply put something new into a place. You have to absorb what you see around you, what exists on the land, and then use that knowledge along with contemporary thinking to interpret what you see"

Tadao Ando, Architect

"Throughout that period, Japan had made honest efforts to keep the destruction of war from spreading and, based on the belief that all nations of the world should find their places, had followed a policy designed to restore an expeditious peace between Japan and China"

Hideki Tojo, Soldier

Small: Hideki Tojo

"The temple bell stops but I still hear the sound coming out of the flowers"

Matsuo Basho, Poet

"When love is deep, much can be accomplished"

Shinichi Suzuki, Musician

Small: Shinichi Suzuki

"Each and every master, regardless of the era or the place, heard the call and attained harmony with heaven and earth. There are many paths leading to the top of Mount Fuji, but there is only one summit - love"

Morihei Ueshiba, Athlete

"A good stance and posture reflect a proper state of mind"

Morihei Ueshiba, Athlete

"I think I can make an entirely new game experience, and if I can't do it, some other game designer will"

Shigeru Miyamoto, Designer

"A person, who no matter how desperate the situation, gives others hope, is a true leader"

Daisaku Ikeda, Writer

Small: Daisaku Ikeda

"You must not for one instant give up the effort to build new lives for yourselves. Creativity means to push open the heavy, groaning doorway to life"

Daisaku Ikeda, Writer

Small: Daisaku Ikeda

"I believe that there are still people who believe that game music is something equal to just an effect incorporated into the game, something like a BGM. And therefore this is something that I would like to show that is not true"

Nobuo Uematsu, Composer

Small: Nobuo Uematsu

"Music should be able to invoke the natural emotions in all human beings. Music is not notes fixed on apiece of paper"

Toru Takemitsu, Composer

Small: Toru Takemitsu

"However, very recently I have come to an understanding that complex music is not necessarily pleasant"

Nobuo Uematsu, Composer

Small: Nobuo Uematsu

"And it's very strange, but I think there is something very common - not only in Celtic music - but there is a factor or element in Celtic music that is similar in music that we find in Japan, the United States, Europe, and even China and other Asian countries"

Nobuo Uematsu, Composer

Small: Nobuo Uematsu

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