If you’ve heard or used the phrase “spark joy” before, you have Kondo Marie (近藤麻理恵) to thank for that. With her Netflix show Tidying Up with Kondo Marie, her “KonMari” tidying methods and philosophy have captured the hearts of many. I myself have found her clothing tips helpful, but I still have yet to read through my copy of her best-selling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.
So it comes as no surprise that she would launch her own US online shop, “The Shop at KonMari”. It’s also no surprise that she would face backlash and criticism for it.
At The Shop at KonMari, Making Room for Meaningful Objects Comes With a Price
We’ve already covered how the tidying expert isn’t quite as popular in her native country. Now Japanese netizens are critiquing Kondo’s shop and products.
Twitter user @tokuda1125 posted a screencap of the shop’s $42 “Flower Bouquet Tote” with the comment, “You don’t really need this. It’s probably the first thing you’ll throw away when you’re done with it.”
Others responded with sarcasm and disbelief. One user posted, “I’m a fan of the KonMari method, but is it really necessary to sell a shiatsu [acupressure] stick for $12?” Another angrily posted, “You say to throw things away, and now you’re telling us to buy things? How greedy.”
I perused through the shop myself. Many of the products were produced by Japanese artisans, and the designs are quite beautiful. Some of the pricing made sense to me, but others just left me befuddled. I don’t know anyone who would spend $65 on a bottle opener or $200 on a tea container. There’s nothing new in selling high-end, indispensable products at ridiculous prices. But it’s no surprise that a self-proclaimed minimalist jumping on this bandwagon is rubbing people the wrong way.
On the home page of her shop, Kondo repeats that her objective isn’t for people to throw stuff away, but to “make room for meaningful objects, people and experiences.” On the KonMari company’s official Twitter account, the launch announcement included the copy “don’t buy TOO much.” Opening an online shop while telling people not to consume too much? Yeah…I can see how people would be put off by that.
Planning a trip to Japan? Get an authentic, interpreted experience from Unseen Japan Tours and see a side of the country others miss!
"Noah [at Unseen Japan] put together an itinerary that didn’t lock us in and we could travel at our own pace. In Tokyo, he guided us personally on a walking tour. Overall, he made our Japan trip an experience not to forget." - Kate and Simon S., Australia
Keep all you devices connected in Japan - rent a pocket wifi device! Available for hotel pickup or delivered to your airport. Fast speeds and backed by excellent customer service. (Note: Affiliate link - Unseen Japan earns a commission if you make a purchase.)
The shop launched on November 19, yet already many of the items listed are out of stock. In other words, all the criticism is unlikely to put a damper on sales. If you are currently in the midst of a “tidying up” phase and stumble upon Kondo’s shop, check the prices and ask yourself if any of the items really “spark joy.”