As I was Nordic walking today, I saw a wheat field and a rice field side by side showing a good contrast. The wheat is ready to be harvested and the rice was recently planted. We don’t grow that much wheat compared to rice in Japan, but when we do wheat is grown in winter and rice is grown in summer: They represent the opposite elements.
When they are lined up like this we can see how they can be brothers or sisters.
Eating wheat berries the other day, I felt closer to this grain and now I think it is the best form of consuming wheat.
This is how we would eat wheat if we discovered this grain first. Bringing the Eastern element to eating this Western grain, I feel something interesting will emerge for the new era.
I am going to England this summer, and I would like to investigate ways to incorporate Ikigai Diet into the food over there.
It has always been an integration of East and West, in my case, since I first encountered macrobiotics and Shiatsu in England about 33 years ago, along with psychotherapies, which gave me the idea how the mind can influence our health. After coming back to Japan, I have lived in Satoyama to experience the traditional Japanese natural life including natural farming. So both Zen and a Way of Sustainable Prosperity and Ikigai Diet have a good balance of Eastern approach and Western approach.
By going back to England this summer, I have a feeling that this process of integration will complete.