Food metaphors
Winkletter • 26 Jun 2025 •
I’m going to riff on @jasonleow’s food metaphor, Stop at 80%, revisited because it reminds me of another Japanese word I like.
Mottainai (もったいない) – Waste Nothing
This concept expresses regret over waste and encourages using resources to their fullest. It can mean repurposing leftovers or using vegetable scraps to make broth.
From what I’ve heard it’s considered rude in Japan to leave behind food and taking leftovers home from a restaurant is uncommon. Also, one doesn’t consume food or drink while walking and this encourages people to buy food or drinks in sizes they can finish. If I pair mottainai with hara hachi bu, this means I don’t just stop eating with 80% left on my plate. I have to mindfully portion meals so I finish everything without feeling full.
While I’m at it, let’s incorporate another concept in this approach.
Ichiju Sansai (一汁三菜) – One Soup, Three Dishes
This is a traditional structure of a balanced Japanese meal: rice, one soup, one main, and two sides. It’s minimalist, balanced, and satisfying without being excessive.
If I’m eating an 80% meal, how do I finish while still feeling satisfied? I prepare a variety of dishes that keep the meal interesting and feel more substantial. This requires a habit of mindful preparation. Bringing this back to work, if I want a lifestyle where I stop at 80%, I should set goals that match my appetite and plan a variety of tasks that will keep me engaged. Then maybe I can avoid another Japanese word.
Karōshi (過労死) – Death from Overwork
Occupational sudden death, primarily due to cardiovascular issues like heart attacks and strokes caused by stress and long working hours.
Comments
It’s a common inciting incident in the isekai novels I read. The protagonist is working at a “black company”, dies from overwork, and is reincarnated into a laid-back life as a witch or farmer with fantasy superpowers.
It’s frightening that the last one has an official term.