Shojin may not be a household world in the UK, but for Rie Crowley, who grew up in Japan, it's a vital wellbeing concept that we should all know about.
The founder of Shojin Mania, an artisanal food business, Rie is on a mission to spread shojin's nutritional and wellbeing benefits to as may people a possible – along with her favourite fermented superfoods from Japan.
We caught up with her to find out more...
What is shojin?
"In Japan, the word shojin is very familiar. It's a daily expression meaning to keep striving or improving — but at its heart, it represents something deeper: an attitude of letting go of excess, using what we have with care, and living with awareness and gratitude.
"In today’s fast and sometimes overwhelming world, I feel this mindset is more relevant than ever. It is all about appreciating what we have, being mindful, and living gently. I want to share this philosophy in a relaxed, warm and joyful way."
And how does your artisanal food business, Shojin Mania, play into this?
"In Japan, we often say that what we eat shapes not only our body but also our state of mind. Fermented foods such as koji [a culinary mould grown on grains like rice or soybeans] have long been part of daily life, traditionally believed to support balance and wellbeing.
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"The aim with Shojin Mania is to encourage people to bring more gentle, nourishing foods into their daily lives while also slowing down and being kinder to themselves and to others. If it can introduce even a small sense of calm, warmth and care into everyday life, I feel we are doing something meaningful.
"I would love to make kinako [a roasted soybean flour] more widely known outside Japan too. In Japan, it is an everyday ingredient associated with comfort and wellbeing and I hope it can become part of people’s daily routines elsewhere too. We also plan to introduce more koji-based foods with the hope of helping more people enjoy gentle, balanced and nourishing lives."
How do you discover the artisans and products you stock?
"Mostly through introductions and long-standing relationships built through other projects. Personal connection and trust are very important in Japan, and many of our producers are people I have met through years of working with regional businesses and artisans."
What has been most popular so far?
"Our current bestseller is Kinako Sesame. It has a rich, nutty flavour and you can make it into a latte or sprinkle it over porridge or yoghurt."
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Cara is Commissioning Editor at Country Living, covering everything from style and interiors to sustainability, artisans and the great outdoors. She has previously worked for Good Housekeeping, Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful, Prima and Red, and has an MA in Magazine Journalism from City University and a BA in Music from the University of Oxford. Follow Cara on Instagram @caralaskaris or Linkedin.
