A smooth summer
outdoor gathering
Summer is the perfect time to get together outdoors. Away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, picnics, outdoor dining and garden-parties are the perfect opportunity to slow down and share authentic moments in harmony with nature.
Extending and relishing summer
No season passes more quickly than summer. Holidays always seem too short, the nights start to stretch again, and the carefree days are quickly numbered. To gently hold on to the summer season, the principles of ‘slow summer’ invite us to live each moment with full awareness so as to better appreciate it. Share moments with your loved ones in the most beautiful part of summer entertainment: nature in full bloom, bathed in sunshine. Outdoor space isn't just a place, it's a living environment that nourishes and soothes us.
Shinrin-yoku 森林浴 or nature bathing
Involving immersing yourself in nature to reduce stress, Shinrin Yoku - or "forest bathing" in Japanese - is a simple practice that offers a multitude of mental and physical health benefits. This sensory and meditative immersion invites you to consciously connect with nature through your senses, paying attention to sounds, smells and textures. By feeling the grass or sand under our feet during an evening with friends, admiring the light through the foliage during a summer picnic on a terrace, or listening to birdsong at a garden party, our sensory perception of the moment intensifies and time slows down. A concept very familiar with MUJI’s simple, functional approach to conscious living.
A simple setting to make the most of
The best summer gatherings and garden parties are those that fit in best with nature - and are experienced with full awareness. With an authentic, uncluttered setting, contact with the elements and with others is facilitated, and the effects on well-being are enhanced.
Start by choosing a place suitable for this immersion, such as a shady, calm spot that allows good contact with nature. In keeping with MUJI's uncluttered philosophy, dress it up simply with a few candles, a picnic tablecloth, cushions, garlands and minimalist tableware such as carafes, wooden cutlery, towels, tissues, and glass storage containers. Then put together a summer picnic menu of raw vegetables, sandwiches like the popular fruit sando or Japanese egg sando with MUJI Curry, crisps, crackers, cold noodle salads, easy-to-share snacks, chilled drinks, fruits and a few sweets. Don't forget to protect yourself from the sun and heat during these outdoor moments, with handheld fans, sunglasses and hats. Finally, when the event comes to an end, remember to thank nature and respect the environment by carefully cleaning up the area.
Summer picnics that nourish the soul
The real richness of these summer entertainments lies in the emotional value of these shared moments, and evokes another Japanese concept: Ichigo-ichie (一期一会). Meaning "a moment, an encounter", it reminds us that each moment is unique and will never be repeated in exactly the same way, thus inviting us to cherish it to the full. Every summer picnic, outdoor dining or garden party is a precious moment to be savoured. More than the perfection of a menu or meticulous organisation, it's the connection with nature and with our loved ones that makes these moments of outdoor gathering so sweet and beautiful - and your summer so memorable.