https://www.youtube.com/@Zen-Bonsai-Vibes

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Come Back to This Moment 🌿 Japanese Zen, Bonsai & a Small Challenge from Japan | Day 591

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Day 591 🌿
Tokyo, Japan

Namaste from Tokyo. 🇯🇵🇮🇳

I am Japanese, and today I would like to share a small thought from Japanese Zen with you in English.

Today’s word is:

正念 — Shōnen

For me, Shōnen carries a simple reminder:

When your mind travels too far, gently bring it back to this moment.

Sometimes our mind remains in yesterday.

“What should I have done differently?”

Sometimes it runs ahead to tomorrow.

“What will happen next?”

But when I look at my two bonsai, Asahiyama Sakura and Serissa, my attention naturally comes back to what is in front of me.

How is the soil today?

How is the moss?

Has anything changed since yesterday?

I do not need to think about everything at once.

Shōnen.

Look at what is here.

Breathe quietly.

And take care of what you can do now.

In India, there are also long traditions of meditation and reflection. Japanese Zen developed in its own historical and cultural setting, but perhaps people across cultures can recognise something in this simple practice:

returning our attention to the present moment.

Sometimes, even a few quiet minutes with a small bonsai can remind us to come back to here and now. 🌿

🎙️ My Language & Culture Challenge

This is also part of my personal challenge as a Japanese person.

I am trying to share small pieces of Japanese Zen, bonsai, and everyday life in Japan with people from different cultures.

My English may not always be perfect, but I hope you can enjoy this journey with me.

I share content from Japan every day.
Thank you for watching from India and around the world.
If you enjoy this journey, please subscribe to the channel. 🇯🇵🌿

Note: AI was used to help organise and refine the language of this script. The bonsai observations are based on my real daily experiences.

#India,#IndianEnglish,#Japan,#JapaneseZen,#Bonsai,#Shonen,#Mindfulness,#Meditation,#JapaneseCulture,#Tokyo,#AsahiyamaSakura,#Serissa,#Zen,#BonsaiLife

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Nothing to Hold On To 🌿 Bonsai, Zen & a Humid Tokyo Day | Day 595

Description

Day 595 🌿August 20, 2026 — 12:16 PMTokyo, Japan

Good afternoon from Tokyo.

It is sunny again today, but the air feels hot and humid.

According to the forecast, the weather may become more unsettled from tomorrow.

I also came across a report saying that typhoons have formed every month since January this year, something that has not happened since 2015.

Today, I checked my two bonsai again.

The soil of my Asahiyama Sakura is still moist.

I cannot see any obvious mold at the moment.

However, there is still no clear sign of new growth.

The moss on my Serissa looks relatively healthy, but it is not a vivid green.

When I look at bonsai every day, I naturally start searching for results.

“I want it to grow.”

“I want the moss to become greener.”

“I want flowers to bloom.”

That is why today’s Zen phrase came to mind:

本来無一物 — Honrai Mu Ichimotsu

It is sometimes translated as:

“Originally, there is not a single thing.”

But this does not simply mean that nothing exists.

For me, it is a reminder to loosen our attachment to how things “should” be.

The Asahiyama Sakura does not appear to be growing.

The Serissa moss is not beautifully green.

But perhaps I do not need to label those things as good or bad immediately.

Right now, the soil is moist.

Right now, I do not see mold.

Right now, the moss is still there.

That is what is actually in front of me.

Honrai Mu Ichimotsu.

For a moment, I can put aside the desire for flowers, visible growth, or perfect results.

Tomorrow’s weather may change.

The bonsai may also change in their own time.

So today, instead of forcing an outcome, I will simply observe what is here.

Even a day when “nothing seems to be happening” can still be part of the journey.

From a sunny and humid Tokyo, I’ll continue watching over these two small bonsai. 🌿

Broadcasting from Japan. Please subscribe to the channel.

Note: AI was used to help organise and refine the wording of this text. The bonsai observations and daily records are based on my own real experiences.

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#Bonsai,#Zen,#Japan,#Tokyo,#HonraiMuIchimotsu,#JapaneseZen,#JapaneseCulture,#AsahiyamaSakura,#Serissa,#Mindfulness,#BonsaiLife,#TokyoLife,#JapanesePhilosophy

TitleDon’t Forget Your Beginner’s Mind 🌿 Bonsai & Shoshin | Day 594

DescriptionDay 594 🌿August 19, 2026 — 8:03 AMTokyo, Japan

Good morning from Tokyo.

Today feels even more humid than yesterday.

This morning, I checked my two bonsai again — Asahiyama Sakura and Serissa.

On the Asahiyama Sakura, I noticed something that looks like mold around the area where the moss is tied. I’ll need to remove it later.

On the Serissa, some of the upper leaves feel dry and crisp.

Today’s Japanese phrase is:

初心忘るべからず — Shoshin Wasuru Bekarazu

In simple terms:

Don’t forget the mindset you had when you first began.

When you care for bonsai every day, it is easy to focus only on problems.

“Mold again.”

“Why are the leaves drying out?”

But when I first started growing bonsai, my thoughts were much simpler.

“How does it look today?”

“I hope it grows a little stronger.”

Don’t forget your beginner’s mind.

When problems appear, return to that original attitude.

If there is mold, remove it.

If the leaves are drying, observe them carefully.

There is no need to fix everything at once.

Just do one small thing that can be done today.

On this hot and humid Tokyo morning, I’m looking at my two bonsai and reminding myself why I started. 🌿

Broadcasting from Japan. Please subscribe to the channel.

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TitleDon’t Forget the Beginner’s Mind 🌿 A Deeper Zen Reflection from Japan | Day 594

DescriptionDay 594 🌿August 19, 2026 — 8:03 AMTokyo, Japan

Good morning from Tokyo.

Today feels more humid than yesterday.

This morning, I checked my two bonsai again — Asahiyama Sakura and Serissa.

On the Asahiyama Sakura, I noticed something that looks like mold around the part where the moss is tied. I will need to remove it later.

On the Serissa, some of the upper leaves feel dry and slightly crisp.

These small changes reminded me of a Japanese saying:

初心忘るべからず — Shoshin Wasuru Bekarazu

It means:

“Do not forget your beginner’s mind.”

The idea of Shoshin, or beginner’s mind, is deeply connected with Japanese Zen.

In Zen, a beginner’s mind is not simply the mind of someone who knows very little.

It is a mind that is open, attentive, humble and free from too many assumptions.

When we become familiar with something, we often start believing that we already understand it.

We stop looking carefully.

We expect certain results.

We may even become frustrated when reality does not match our expectations.

But Zen asks us to return to a simpler way of seeing.

To look again.

To notice what is actually here.

To avoid saying too quickly, “I already know.”

This is why Shoshin can be important even after years of practice.

A beginner may look at a bonsai and simply ask:

“How is it today?”

“Does it need water?”

“Has anything changed?”

But after caring for it for a long time, the mind may become filled with expectations:

“It should be healthier by now.”

“It should have flowered.”

“This problem should not happen again.”

That is where the beginner’s mind can disappear.

Today, I am trying to return to it.

There is something like mold on the Asahiyama Sakura.

So I will observe it and remove what needs to be removed.

Some Serissa leaves are dry.

So I will look carefully before deciding what to do next.

I do not need to solve everything immediately.

I do not need to force the bonsai to become what I want it to be.

I only need to pay attention to what is present today.

This is one of the quiet lessons I find in Zen.

Zen is not always about escaping problems.

Often, it is about meeting reality directly, without adding unnecessary fear, impatience or judgement.

A dry leaf is a dry leaf.

Mold is mold.

A humid morning is a humid morning.

And today is simply today.

Shoshin Wasuru Bekarazu.

Do not forget the mind you had when you first began.

Stay curious.

Stay humble.

Keep looking carefully.

Even when the same problems return, we can meet them with a fresh mind.

On this humid Tokyo morning, my two bonsai are reminding me that practice is not always about making dramatic progress.

Sometimes, practice simply means returning to the beginning and seeing clearly once again. 🌿

I am Japanese, and I broadcast this channel from Japan.Please subscribe to the channel.

https://www.youtube.com/@Zen-Bonsai-Vibes

Hashtags#Zen,#Bonsai,#Japan,#Shoshin,#BeginnersMind,#JapaneseZen,#JapaneseCulture,#Tokyo,#AsahiyamaSakura,#Serissa,#Mindfulness,#ZenWisdom,#BonsaiLife

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Every Day Can Be a Good Day 🌿 A Clear Tokyo Morning with Two Bonsai | Day 593

Description
Day 593 🌿
August 19, 2026 — 5:45 AM
Tokyo, Japan

Good morning from Tokyo.

It is still warm and humid this morning, but the air feels unusually clear and fresh.

The sky is bright and blue, with only a few clouds.

It is one of those quiet summer mornings when simply looking at the sky makes the beginning of the day feel a little different.

This morning, I checked my two bonsai again — Asahiyama Sakura and Serissa.

Yesterday, I removed some of the moss from the Asahiyama Sakura.

When I looked at it again this morning, the moss had not spread.

The Serissa also looked calm today.

I could not see any insects on the surface of the moss, and it did not appear to be dry.

Nothing dramatic has happened.

No flowers have suddenly appeared.

There has been no big change.

But perhaps that is exactly why today’s Zen phrase came to mind:

日々是好日 — Hibi Kore Kōjitsu

It is often translated as:

“Every day is a good day.”

But I do not think it simply means that every day must be happy, comfortable, or perfect.

Some days bring problems.

Some days bring small improvements.

And some days seem to bring almost no change at all.

With bonsai, every morning is slightly different.

The moss may be dry one day and moist the next.

An insect may appear and then disappear.

A branch may weaken.

Or everything may simply remain quiet.

Rather than deciding immediately whether the day is “good” or “bad”, perhaps we can first notice what is actually here.

This morning, the sky is clear.

The moss has not spread on the Asahiyama Sakura.

The Serissa is not dry, and I cannot see any insects on its surface.

These are small observations, but they belong to this particular morning.

Hibi Kore Kōjitsu.

Today does not need to be extraordinary to have value.

On this clear and humid Tokyo morning, I’ll spend a little more time with these two bonsai and simply accept today as it is. 🌿

Broadcasting from Japan. Please subscribe to the channel.

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#Bonsai,#Zen,#Japan,#Tokyo,#HibiKoreKojitsu,#JapaneseCulture,#AsahiyamaSakura,#Serissa,#TokyoMorning,#Mindfulness,#BonsaiLife,#EveryDayIsAGoodDay

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Look Beyond the Surface 🌿 Bonsai & Zen from Japan | Day 592

Description
Day 592 🌿
Tokyo, Japan

Good morning from Tokyo.

I’m Japanese, and I’m sharing this channel from Japan in English.

Today is warm and humid in Tokyo. The sky is bright but rather cloudy, and I can hear cicadas outside.

This morning, I checked my two bonsai — Asahiyama Sakura and Serissa.

At the moment, the moss seems to be the healthiest part of both.

Under the Serissa’s moss, it still feels quite moist.

The Asahiyama Sakura, however, is beginning to dry out, so it looks as though it may need some water.

Today’s Japanese Zen phrase is:

見性成仏 — Kenshō Jōbutsu

In simple terms, it reminds us not to judge only by what we see on the surface.

Two bonsai may look similar, but their condition underneath can be quite different.

So they may not need the same care.

Look carefully at what is really there, and respond to what each one needs now.

On this humid Tokyo morning, with the sound of cicadas in the background, I’ll keep watching these two small bonsai one detail at a time. 🌿

Broadcasting from Japan. Please subscribe to the channel.

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#Bonsai,#Zen,#Japan,#Tokyo,#KenshoJobutsu,#JapaneseCulture,#AsahiyamaSakura,#Serissa,#Cicadas,#BonsaiLife

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Look Beyond the Surface 🌿 Bonsai & Kenshō Jōbutsu | Day 592

Description
Day 592 🌿
Tokyo, Japan

Good morning from Tokyo.

It’s humid today. The sky is bright but mostly cloudy, and I can hear cicadas outside.

This morning, I checked my two bonsai: Asahiyama Sakura and Serissa.

For both trees, the moss currently looks like the healthiest part.

Under the Serissa’s moss, it still feels moist.

But the Asahiyama Sakura is becoming drier, so it looks like it may need some water.

Today’s Japanese Zen phrase is:

見性成仏 — Kenshō Jōbutsu

In Zen, it refers to seeing one’s true nature and awakening to it.

Looking at my bonsai makes me think about this in a simple way.

At first, I may only notice that there are no flowers or that the branches do not look healthy.

But when I look more carefully, I notice something else.

The moss is still alive.

And although the two bonsai may look similar from the outside, the moisture beneath their moss is different.

So they do not necessarily need the same care.

Kenshō Jōbutsu.

Don’t judge only by what you see on the surface.

Look carefully at what is really there, and respond to what each one needs now.

On this humid Tokyo morning, with cicadas singing outside, I’ll keep observing these two small bonsai one detail at a time. 🌿

Broadcasting from Japan. Please subscribe to the channel.

Hashtags
#Bonsai,#Zen,#Japan,#Tokyo,#KenshoJobutsu,#JapaneseCulture,#AsahiyamaSakura,#Serissa,#Cicadas,#Mindfulness,#BonsaiLife

TitleKeep Going Through Hard Times 🌿 Bonsai & Gashin Shōtan | Day 591

DescriptionDay 591 🌿Tokyo, Japan

Good morning from Tokyo.

The sky is cloudy today, and it feels a little humid.

Some branches of my Serissa are starting to dry out.

On the surface of my Asahiyama Sakura, I noticed something that looks like mold, so I’m going to remove it.

Today’s phrase is:

臥薪嘗胆 — Gashin Shōtan

This old expression comes from Chinese history and is also well known in Japan.

In simple terms, it means:

Endure hardship, remember your goal, and keep going.

When a bonsai is not doing well, it is easy to feel disappointed.

A branch may dry out.

Mold may appear.

Flowers may not bloom.

But one difficult day does not decide the whole story.

So today, I will remove what needs to be removed, check the condition carefully, and continue the small care I can give.

Gashin Shōtan.

Hard times can become part of a longer journey.

From cloudy Tokyo, I’ll keep caring for these two bonsai, one day at a time. 🌿

Broadcasting from Japan. Please subscribe to the channel.

Hashtags#Bonsai,#Japan,#GashinShotan,#JapaneseCulture,#Tokyo,#Serissa,#AsahiyamaSakura,#Perseverance,#LifeLessons,#BonsaiLife

Title
Look Directly at What Is Here 🌿 Bonsai & Jikishi Ninshin | Day 591

Description
Day 591 🌿
Tokyo, Japan

Good morning from Tokyo.

The sky is cloudy today, and the air feels a little humid.

Some branches of my Serissa are starting to dry out.

On the surface of my Asahiyama Sakura, I noticed something that looks like mold, so I’m going to remove it.

Today’s Japanese Zen phrase is:

直指人心 — Jikishi Ninshin

It can be understood as looking directly into your own mind and heart.

When I look at my bonsai, I naturally hope they will become healthy again and that the flowers will bloom.

But before thinking about the result, I need to see what is actually in front of me.

A drying branch is a drying branch.
If there is something like mold, I remove it.

And I can also look at myself.

Am I worrying too much?
Am I expecting results too quickly?

Jikishi Ninshin.

Look directly at reality, and at the same time, look directly at your own mind.

From a cloudy Tokyo, I’ll keep doing the small things I can do today. 🌿

Broadcasting from Japan. Please subscribe to the channel.

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🎙️ Tokyo Ghost Stories #1 | Oiteke-bori — A Mysterious Voice from Fukagawa

Hello from Fukagawa, Tokyo, Japan.

I’m Japanese, and today I’m recording this story from Fukagawa itself.

This is a place where modern Tokyo and the memory of old Edo still meet.

Today, I’d like to share an old Japanese folk tale associated with Fukagawa.

This is not a confirmed historical event.

It is a story that has been passed down as part of Japanese folklore.

Its name is—

Oiteke-bori.

Today, Fukagawa is part of modern Tokyo.

People live here, trains pass nearby, and the streets are filled with everyday life.

But imagine this area hundreds of years ago, during the Edo period.

Fukagawa was closely connected with rivers, canals, and waterways.

And at night, there were none of the bright city lights that illuminate Tokyo today.

Imagine walking alone beside the dark water.

The sound of water.

The sound of the wind.

And then…

a voice.

A voice coming from somewhere you cannot see.

According to the old tale, one night a man was fishing near the water.

It was a good night for fishing.

He had caught plenty of fish and decided it was time to go home.

He gathered his catch and began to walk away.

Then, from somewhere near the dark water, he heard a voice.

“Oiteke…”

In Japanese, it carries the sense of—

“Leave it behind…”

The man stopped.

He looked behind him.

Nobody was there.

Perhaps it was only his imagination.

So he continued walking.

Then he heard it again.

“Oiteke…”

He walked faster.

Again—

“Oiteke…”

Something hidden in the darkness seemed to be telling him not to take his catch home.

The man became frightened.

He ran.

He kept running until he finally reached home.

At last, he was safe.

Or so he thought.

He went to check the fish he had caught.

And then he discovered something strange.

The fish were gone.

Not one remained.

So what had called to him from the darkness?

Over the years, different versions of the legend have offered different explanations.

Some connect the mystery with supernatural beings from Japanese folklore.

Some versions mention a kappa, a strange creature traditionally associated with water.

Others connect the story with a tanuki, an animal that appears in many Japanese folk tales involving tricks and mysterious events.

But perhaps the mystery is more interesting without an answer.

Remember, this is folklore—not a documented historical incident.

Yet telling this story here in Fukagawa gives it a different feeling.

Because right now, I’m in Tokyo.

In Fukagawa.

The modern city is all around me.

But this area still has a long relationship with water and with the history of Edo.

Perhaps hundreds of years ago, someone stood somewhere around here…

looked toward the dark water…

and told another person the story of Oiteke-bori.

And today, I’m telling it again.

From Fukagawa, Tokyo, Japan.

So imagine that one night you are walking beside the water.

Everything is quiet.

And suddenly, from somewhere in the darkness, you hear—

“Oiteke…”

You keep walking.

Then once more—

“Oiteke…”

Would you turn around?

Thank you for listening to this story from Tokyo.

I’ll see you again for another mysterious tale from Japan.