We are a podcast and blog exploring the meaningful path of kodawari.

“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.”

John Muir

Quick links: What is Kodawari? | Start Here | Newsletter | Podcast

Hi,

My name is Luke, and welcome to Exploring Kodawari. I am a classical trumpet player who performs and teaches for a living. My co-host for the podcast (and fiancé) is Yankı. She is a classical violinist from Turkey who also performs and teaches for a living.

And we are excited to bring you our new project, a podcast and blog dedicated to exploring all forms of kodawari in the world.

Kodawari is a beautiful concept word from Japanese. Although difficult to translate succinctly, kodawari essentially means pursuing perfection in a craft. It is the pursuit of an ideal even though you realize you can’t arrive there.

But it is so much more than that, and on a zoomed-out level, it is an approach to life. It is being the best you can be, even if nobody else will notice.

What is Kodawari?

Kodawari can mean many things. It can be your personal standard and sense of professionalism. It is the pride you take in doing a job the right way. Kodawari is taking on full responsibility in a steadfast manner. It is the opposite of cutting corners.

Kodawari is the energy that makes people approach life with commitment and attention to detail. It is the unwavering voice in our heads that demands hard work and striving—even when it’s unclear exactly what we’re aiming at.

Kodawari is what drives musicians to spend countless hours in the practice room. It motivates a chef to make the perfect meal, a writer to suffer over their words, and a barista to craft the perfect drink.

But it is also a way of life.

What else is there to do in life besides seeking growth? And kodawari means that one takes this life mission seriously. Your mind, and the contents you put into it, are all you have. So why not take it seriously?

Our Motivation

I first heard the word kodawari in a 2014 interview with Peter Giuliano about the specialty coffee movement, and my brain lit up the moment that I heard it. It codified something in me that was always there—something that I previously could not articulate.

As serious musicians, we already knew the value of hard work. We have spent thousands and thousands of hours in the practice room pursuing the ideal. High-level classical musicians have to attend to the subtlest musical details all the while having a beautiful sound. You cannot succeed in music without that kodawari drive.

As I got older, I realized that my kodawari energy wanted to spread out. There’s a contagious element to kodawari, and I found myself applying the same standard to other parts of my life. Specialty coffee, craft beer, meditation, and learning Turkish are a few examples of the kinds of rabbit holes I’ve enjoyed diving into.

But I want more.

Being quarantined by the COVID-19 pandemic has been weird for everyone, but I think it is particularly challenging for musicians. It’s been ten weeks since Yankı or I have performed a concert, and the immediate future doesn’t look promising. Finding the motivation to practice during this time is extremely difficult. The kodawari energy source has been compromised.

But then I realized that kodawari is not really about one specific craft. It is a mindset towards life—towards anything you wish to do.

Human beings—especially artists types like ourselves—need things to apply the kodawari energy towards. Without it, the feeling of meaninglessness starts to creep in. Nihilism is always waiting in the shadows to ruin your motivation. So we want to be inspired and apply our work ethic towards exploring kodawari itself.

We want to read books, interview people, discuss topics, and discover amazing content that will keep our kodawari fire burning.

Life is mysterious and tragic. When you’re willing to look at the world honestly—to look at your own mind honestly—it’s not always easy to find a happy conclusion.

But as far as I can tell, you can either distract yourself from that fact or dive right into it. You can either bide your time or you can listen to that voice inside that seeks deeper answers.

We hope that you’ll join us as we embark on this exploration of kodawari!


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