Kokoro: Japanese Wisdom for a Life Well Lived

Follow Japanologist Beth Kempton as she embarks on a transformative pilgrimage across rural Japan, navigating grief and major life changes.

She explores profound questions about life, such as finding calm in chaos, letting go of the past, and embracing impermanence. Along the way, Kempton encounters wise teachers—ranging from Noh actors to taxi drivers—and experiences moments of reflection in sacred, ancient places.

The journey is rooted in the concept of kokoro, a Japanese term that encompasses the intelligent heart, the feeling mind, and the spirit.

This exploration of kokoro offers insights on cultivating stillness and contentment in a constantly shifting world, ultimately inspiring readers to live guided by their inner light.