Kandō (感動) as a philosophy
Kandō is the Japanese word for a profound emotional response – literally “being moved” or “touched to the core.” It is the shiver-down-the-spine awe, tears welling up, the lump in the throat when something overwhelmingly beautiful, meaningful, or true suddenly hits you. While it is usually translated as “deeply moving” or “emotionally touching,” many Japanese philosophers, artists, and designers treat kandō not just as a fleeting feeling, but as an entire orientation toward life and creation.
Kandō in Japanese aesthetics and thought
- In traditional arts (Noh theater, tea ceremony, kōdō incense ceremony, haiku, etc.), the ultimate goal is often to evoke kandō in the audience or participant. It is considered higher than mere beauty (bi 美) or sublimity (yūgen 幽玄).
- Motoori Norinaga (18th-century kokugaku scholar) used the related concept mono no aware (“the pathos of things”) to describe a gentle sadness mixed with wonder at impermanence, but many later thinkers place kandō as the peak emotional experience that includes and transcends mono no aware.
- In modern times, companies such as Yamaha (“Kandō Company”), Lexus (“Experience Kandō”), and Sony (in its founding prospectus) explicitly declare that their corporate purpose is to “create kandō” – meaning products and experiences that emotionally move people in a profound way.
Kandō as a life philosophy
When people speak of kandō as a personal philosophy today, they usually mean something like:
- Live in such a way that you remain capable of being deeply moved.
Protect your sensitivity. Avoid cynicism and emotional numbing. Keep the heart soft enough that beauty, kindness, courage, or truth can still pierce it. - Pursue experiences, relationships, and creations whose goal is to evoke kandō – in yourself and in others.
Instead of asking “Is this useful?” or “Is this pleasurable?”, ask “Can this move someone to tears of awe or gratitude?” - Recognize kandō moments as revelations of meaning.
When you feel genuine kandō (watching a perfect sunset, hearing your child say something wise, witnessing an act of selfless courage), treat it as a momentary glimpse of something transcendent – a signal that life is deeper than everyday routine suggests. - Craft and design (objects, services, art, moments) with the intention of kandō.
This is why Japanese product design, hospitality (omotenashi), and even engineering often feel “soulful.” The engineer or designer is not just solving a functional problem; they are trying to create an emotional impact that will stay with the user for life. - Accept the bittersweet nature of kandō.
True kandō almost always contains an element of sadness or impermanence (because what moves us most deeply is often fleeting or fragile). Embracing that bittersweetness, rather than running from it, is part of the philosophy.
A practical kandō philosophy in everyday life
- Pause regularly to notice small things that move you and name the feeling: “Ah, this is kandō.”
- Curate your media, music, books, and relationships to include regular sources of kandō.
- When you create or give something (a gift, a meal, a piece of work), ask yourself: “Could this possibly evoke kandō in someone?”
- Travel, practice arts, or engage in rituals not just for pleasure or status, but in search of moments that shake the soul.
In short, a “kandō as philosophy” approach means orienting your life around the creation and reception of those rare, sacred moments when the heart says without words:
“This… this is what it means to be alive.”