By Kimine Mayuzumi
Ichigo Ichie (一期一会), a Japanese proverb, is a concept that I often share with my readers and audience. Translated as “one encounter, one lifetime,” it encapsulates the idea that each meeting is unique and exists in its own space and time – an irreplaceable moment. Embedded in the Japanese tea ceremony, this concept encourages us to treat the unique quality of each experience as a precious treasure.
There was a moment last year when I was reminded of the essence of Ichigo Ichie in a profound way. It happened during my 81-year-old mom’s visit from Japan. Throughout her month-long stay in Michigan, she expressed multiple times,
“I think this is my last visit.”
She had flown all the way from Japan to Michigan, her second trip last year, and reiterated this sentiment when departing back to Japan in early November. This last-time thinking echoed Ichigo Ichie by bringing closer attention with care to each moment.
Reflecting on the moments my family and mom shared that fall, I can’t help but feel emotional. She arrived in late September when vibrant greens surrounded us. However, as we drove to the airport at the end, she noticed the fallen leaves, barren trees, and the transformation that had taken place. Through her eyes, I also began to see the beauty of time passing in a different light.
My mother was so delighted with the fall scenery and its transformation here in the Midwest, which she had seen 12 years ago when my daughter was born. But I am sure she embraced deeper joy than before, appreciating what surrounded her as opposed to when she was busy helping me with the newborn baby.
Her acknowledgment that this might be her last visit elevated the experience, making each moment awe-inspiring. It emphasized that even if she had seen similar scenery before, the unique circumstances of the present made a difference and left the experience distinct.
Every time she spoke of this possibly being her last visit to the United States, I didn’t shy away from the thought of the “last time.” Instead, I embraced it, even though I dearly wish for her to return again and again. This embrace mirrored the essence of Ichigo Ichie – recognizing that each encounter is a one-time occurrence, urging me to savor and appreciate every moment.
It allowed us to cherish our time together and not take it for granted, becoming the essential ingredient that bound us, making each shared experience more special than usual because of the humanity and gratitude emerging from the embrace.
Right after she left for the other side of the world, I found myself missing her presence, as the echoes of precious moments lingered. Her unique handwriting and heartfelt tanka poetry that she left behind spoke volumes about the significance of our time together.
Life is a perpetual cycle of transitions, with each ending marking the beginning of something new. As I bid farewell to one chapter, I welcomed the start of another. Allowing all emotions to flow, the notion of Ichigo Ichie allowed me to embrace them and look forward to the next encounter with curiosity.
Octavia F. Raheem (2022) beautifully captures the essence of new beginnings:
Beginnings are humbling places. Sometimes we see and feel a beginning coming because many waves of endings have beat against the shore of our being.
We have been worn down to scraps of sediment again and again. We understand there is nothing to do but start over. And sometimes we arrive in a new place, a beginning, after fumbling through the dark, disoriented, and adrift.
We find ourselves at the beginning of a journey holding only ourselves. We look around, and everything is new. And then there are the joyous beginnings of new life, weddings and dreams coming into reality (pp. 85-86).
Ichigo Ichie, one encounter in a lifetime, possesses the power to remind us of the humbling stage. At the same time, it transforms our unknown scenery of a beginning to an acceptance of the new life. It is like a spice that adds flavor to our confused and taken-for-granted lives. Even when we think we are lost, it offers a change of perspective, comforting us in the present and energizing us for the next encounter.
Photo by Emad F. Shahjahan