Ma: The Japanese Secret to Contemplation and Calm

"Ma—the emptiness in which time, space and thoughts are suspended—is an invitation to awareness."

The traditional Japanese concept of ma refers to a pause or a space, "the moment of no action, the stillness and silence that is filled with more powerful energy than the moments of action" on the classic Noh stage. It also refers to the pauses taken in between notes by a shakuhachi flute player or the spaces between stones in a Zen garden which reveal unexpected vistas and perspectives.

The eighteen thought-provoking essays in this book present the work of talented writers and artists with vast experience in the fields of Japanese art, religion, music and philosophy. They show us how the experience of ma in the traditional Zen arts and practices can be used to create a greater awareness of our surroundings to vastly improve our lives in many other areas.

Highlights include:

• "The Unspoken Space We Share" by Pico Iyer, who reflects on our word choice, the way we speak to each other and the pauses in our everyday conversations
• "Some Gravel Some Stones" by Steven Mansfield, who explores deliberate spaces in Japanese garden design and how these provide us with moments of calm
• "Photographic Ma" by Robert van Koesveld, who draws our attention to the mysterious communicative power of "spaces" in photographic compositions that draw us in on a subconscious level
• "Between Form and Emptiness," an interview with artist Miya Ando, whose work in metal, canvas and sculpture is deeply rooted in Zen Buddhist philosophy and reflects the human experience of time, the seasons and ephemerality
• "Moments of Silence and Stillness" by Magda Rittenhouse, whose explorations of traditional Japanese design focus on the spaces between inside and outside, sacred and profane, the safe and the unfamiliar
• Plus thirteen other fascinating essays

Illustrated with 80 stunning photographs, this book will appeal not just to those with an interest in Japanese culture and philosophy, but to anyone seeking to escape the stresses and challenges of daily life and develop a more balanced, meditative approach to the world.

Ken Rogers (1952–2024) was a writer, editor, farmer, and longtime resident of Kyoto, best known as the co-founder of Kyoto Journal, an acclaimed international magazine exploring Japanese and Asian culture since 1987. Passionate about fostering cross-cultural dialogue, Ken edited numerous publications illuminating Japanese aesthetics, Buddhist philosophy, and daily life. Ken also emceed The Kyoto Connection, a monthly open mic event that helped nurture a vibrant community of writers and performers. He left behind a rich legacy of insightful storytelling and deep appreciation for the spaces between things.

John Einarsen is a photographer, designer, and founding editor of Kyoto Journal alongside Ken Rogers. His books of photographs include Kyoto: The Forest Within the Gate, Small Buildings of Kyoto, and This Very Moment (2023). From 2013–2015 he served as an advisor to the Japan Times and in 2013 received the Commissioner's Award of the Japanese Cultural Affairs Agency. He lives near Kyoto's Nanzenji temple.

Compiled essays, illustrations and photographs by talented writers and artists including: Alex Kerr; Gunter Nitschke; Pico Iyer; Steven Mansfield; Mark Hovane; Alexandre Avdulov; John McGee; Joshua Pearl; Edward A. Burger; Leanne Ogasawara; Nakajima Hiroyuki; Hikaru Hirata-Miyakawa; Magdalena Rittenhouse; Kit Nagamura; Alexander Bennett; Atticus Sims; Takafumi Kawakami; Robert van Koesveld; and Michael Dylan Welch.