Narrator: When authors Héctor García and Francesc Miralles visited Ōgimi, Okinawa—a place known as the "village of the centenarians"—they met a 108-year-old man named Ōshiro. Despite his age, Ōshiro greeted them with surprising vigor, shared stories of his life, and even tended to his garden. When they asked him the secret to his long and fulfilling life, his answer was a single, powerful word: "Ganbatta." He then added, "Mainichi ganbattemasu," meaning "I make an effort every day," before bidding them farewell with an encouraging "Ganbatte!" This simple exchange captures the essence of a core Japanese philosophy, one that values resilience, perseverance, and the quiet dignity of doing one's best. In his book, The Japanese Art of Always Moving Forward: Ganbatte!, Albert Liebermann unpacks this profound concept, revealing it not as a call for relentless, stressful striving, but as a balanced and mindful approach to overcoming adversity and finding joy in the journey.

Narrator: At its core, ganbatte is a philosophy of tenacity and resilience. It is the spirit of doing your best, never giving up, and continuously moving forward. This concept is deeply embedded in Japanese culture, encapsulated by the mantra Nana korobi ya oki—"Fall seven times, get up eight." It represents a fundamental shift away from the Western notion of wishing someone "good luck," which implies a reliance on external, uncontrollable forces. Instead, saying "Ganbatte!" is an encouragement to draw upon one's own internal strengths and resources. It carries the message that whatever happens depends on the effort you make.

This philosophy does not demand that every effort result in a spectacular victory. Rather, it finds value in the process itself. The core idea is to do everything you can, to the best of your ability. If things do not turn out as you would like, there is no need to feel bad, because you did everything that was in your power. The most important thing is to learn from the journey. This mindset is instilled in Japan from a young age, fostering a culture of resilience where challenges are not seen as insurmountable barriers but as opportunities for growth.

Narrator: The spirit of ganbatte is woven into the fabric of Japanese culture through powerful stories and metaphors. One of the most iconic images in Japanese art, Hokusai's The Great Wave off Kanagawa, serves as a potent symbol for this philosophy. The print depicts fishermen in small boats battling a monstrous wave, with the serene Mount Fuji visible in the distance. The sailors, who continue to row against overwhelming odds, embody the ganbatte spirit of facing adversity head-on. The wave represents life's temporary but terrifying challenges, while the mountain symbolizes the constant, larger context of life. The artwork teaches that one must engage with the waves of life, as remaining stagnant on the shore leads only to apathy.

This idea of enduring commitment is also captured in the proverb Ishi no ue ni mo san nen, which translates to "on a rock, for three years." It alludes to the legend of the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma, who meditated on a rock for so long that his willpower was said to have melted it. This story inspired the Daruma doll, a popular Japanese talisman. When a person sets a goal, they paint one of the doll's eyes. The doll, with its single eye, serves as a constant reminder of their commitment. Only when the goal is achieved is the second eye painted in. This tradition transforms the abstract idea of perseverance into a tangible, daily ritual, reinforcing the determination to finish what one starts.

Narrator: Ganbatte is not about blind, stubborn persistence. It is a pragmatic philosophy that understands the importance of balance and flexibility. The book explores this through the proverb "A rolling stone gathers no moss." In Western cultures, this often has a negative connotation, suggesting a lack of roots. However, in Japan, it can also be interpreted positively, meaning that constant movement prevents stagnation. The culture also deeply values "moss" (koke), which symbolizes longevity, tranquility, and the beauty of age. The wisdom lies in knowing when to be a rolling stone to avoid "bad moss" like stagnation, and when to stand still to cultivate "beautiful moss" like experience and wisdom.

This nuanced approach extends to the concept of Makeru ga kachi, or "losing is winning." It suggests that in certain situations, conceding a small battle can lead to victory in the larger war. The author recounts a personal story of playing the board game Go with an acquaintance in Okinawa. As the author was about to win, he noticed his host's mood souring. Realizing that the friendship was more valuable than the victory, he intentionally made a few bad moves and lost the game. The atmosphere immediately lightened, leading to a wonderful evening and a lasting friendship. This principle applies across life: letting a child win a game to build their confidence, accepting less favorable terms in a business deal to build a long-term partnership, or conceding a point in an argument to preserve a loving relationship. It is the wisdom of prioritizing long-term harmony over short-term ego.

Narrator: The book presents powerful real-world examples of ganbatte in action, demonstrating how it fuels the pursuit of perfection. The story of Jiro Ono, the world-renowned sushi master, is a testament to this spirit. His humble, three-Michelin-star restaurant in a Tokyo subway station is the result of a lifetime of dedication. Jiro, well into his nineties, still goes to work every day, driven by a relentless desire to improve. He says, "I do the same thing over and over, improving bit by bit... I’ll continue to climb, trying to reach the top, but no one knows where the top is." His apprentices must train for ten years just to learn how to prepare the egg sushi, illustrating the immense patience and hard work required to achieve mastery.

Similarly, the legendary film director Akira Kurosawa embodied this perfectionist spirit. He was known for going to unbelievable lengths to achieve his artistic vision. For his film Rashomon, he dyed the rain black with ink so it would be visible on camera. For Ran, he built a full-scale castle only to burn it down for a single, epic scene. This unwavering commitment to excellence, regardless of the cost or effort, is the ganbatte spirit applied to a craft. It is the belief that one must immerse oneself in their work, fall in love with it, and dedicate their life to mastering their skill.

Narrator: Ganbatte is not just an abstract ideal; it can be applied through practical frameworks like the Kaizen method. Originating in Japanese manufacturing, particularly at Toyota, Kaizen means "continual improvement." Its motto is "Today better than yesterday, tomorrow better than today." It is a process-focused philosophy that involves everyone in an organization, from the CEO to the assembly-line worker, in making incremental improvements. A key component of Kaizen is the 5S Process: Seiri (sort), Seiton (systematize), Seisō (shine), Seiketsu (standardize), and Shitsuke (sustain). This method for creating an organized and efficient workspace can be applied just as effectively to one's personal life, helping to eliminate waste and streamline daily routines.

The book also distills the ganbatte philosophy into ten rules for entrepreneurs, which serve as a guide for any ambitious project. These rules emphasize taking immediate action instead of procrastinating, learning as you go rather than waiting for expertise, and viewing mistakes as essential learning opportunities. They advocate for a balance of steadfastness and flexibility, a commitment to excellence, and the importance of surrounding oneself with supportive people. Ultimately, these rules encourage individuals to trust their intuition and share their work with the world to gather feedback, creating a cycle of continuous improvement.

Narrator: Ultimately, the philosophy of ganbatte is intertwined with a deeper understanding of life's purpose. It finds common ground with Stoicism in its emphasis on focusing on what one can control—our effort and our attitude—while accepting what is beyond our power. It connects to the aesthetic of wabi sabi, which finds beauty in imperfection and incompleteness, reminding us that life is a work in progress.

This idea is beautifully captured in Constantine Cavafy's poem "Ithaca." The poem advises a traveler setting out for their destination to wish for a long road, "full of adventure, full of knowledge." The goal, Ithaca, gives the journey its purpose, but the true riches are found along the way—in the experiences gained, the cultures encountered, and the wisdom acquired. The journey itself transforms the traveler. This is the ultimate expression of ganbatte: to move forward with enthusiasm and perseverance, not with an anxious focus on the finish line, but with a deep appreciation for the path itself. Being on the move, making an effort, and learning from the journey is a success in itself.

Narrator: The Japanese Art of Always Moving Forward: Ganbatte! reveals a philosophy that is both powerful and gentle. It is a call to action, urging us to face life's challenges with courage and persistent effort. Yet, it is also a reminder to be flexible, to find wisdom in concession, and to embrace the beauty of imperfection. The single most important takeaway is that the value of our endeavors lies not just in the outcome, but in the quality of the effort we invest and the growth we experience along the way.

The book challenges us to re-examine our relationship with failure, success, and the very process of living. It asks us to consider the "impossible" goals in our own lives—the ones tethered by the small stake of a past failure or a limiting belief—and to dare to pull on the rope once more. It encourages us to apply the spirit of ganbatte, to start right now, and to find joy not in reaching the destination, but in the richness of the journey.