Some words do not have an exact translation – “tokimeki” I guess translated to “Spark Joy” in Marie Kondo’s best seller … I think the onomatopoeia of “Kyun!” did not get special attention by the interpreter. (8:35 min. into the utube video referenced below), when she said the criteria for what you keep vs. what you discard is the feeling of “kyun”! That piece is a keeper, when you hold and touch an article of clothing in question, if every “cell” of your entire body can feel “KYUN!” – feeling of going positively “up”! – it’s the sound of the heart/mind “kokoro” feeling the adoration … it’s like falling uplifting/rising in love but … more for a puppy or a sweet baby. You know, your heart just … melts but no, that would translate to “toromeku” not “tokimeku”.
Onomatopoeia of “Tokimeki”, her criteria is when your heart goes “kyun” … almost like heart skipping a beat – the heart throbbing…UP – finger points up like an arrow up as she demonstrates. There really is no exact translation but closest would be something like a “vibe” that’s upbeat and exciting. Okay, so “Spark and Joy” will have to do…
She’s kind of like a doll but one with OCD. She’s just so cute but once she opens her mouth, definitely seems to have an Obsessive Compulsive streak. Yet there’s a spectrum to every disorder (or is it a disorder or a gift? what’s normal?) and we need the extremes who helps other extremes – the hoarders – and all in-between. It’s also a bit cultural – in the less disciplined anything goes anarchy like world, what’s seen as OCD, in Japan can only be admired and aspired to. Orderliness, neatness and cleanliness is next to Godliness there, she can only be admired as someone of great virtues and desired skills. In fact, she’s practically like a “life coach”. We all have an element of various tendencies to hold onto things we no longer need – as we favor brevity and speed, abbreviate and expedite how we live, we surround ourselves with objects that impedes living in the presence. Slow down. Reflect, Re-evaluate; then Regenerate through Restoration of Self by knowing how best to take care of ourselves. More restored we are, the more occasions in which our heart can positively spike UP …”kyun”! It’s an UP-tick:)
Here’s her talk from AirBnB – you can search on google or facebook:)
MK “Safe to assume, I am a crazy tidying fanatic!” Indeed.
It would be interesting to see how motherhood may change her…transformative I would guess:)
She may even let a little MESS slip by…