A Contemporary Herbal Travelogue

When you hear the term medicinal herbs, what comes to mind? Plants such as mugwort, fish mint, and turmeric are all examples of medicinal herbs. Many continue to be part of everyday life, from cooling compresses containing mint to ginger-infused soups valued for their warming qualities and dishes prepared according to traditional medicinal principles. Their history stretches back thousands of years. Archaeological discoveries from Jōmon-period dwellings dating back more than 10,000 years have revealed numerous plants believed to have been used for medicinal purposes. As available varieties differ from region to region, medicinal plant traditions have developed in diverse ways, shaped by local climates and environments. They represent the accumulated wisdom of successive generations who learned, through observation and experience, how to make use of the plants growing around them. MUJI has always valued not only creating new products, but also rediscovering the wisdom and ingenuity already present in everyday life and incorporating these into contemporary living. Looking at what is already close at hand, as well as to what is new, may provide opportunities to discover richer ways of living for ourselves. Traveling with herbal researcher Lyie Nitta, this exhibition traces a journey across Japan reexamining the practices, local knowledge, and traditions surrounding medicinal herbs, as well as their role in contemporary food culture and wellbeing. We hope that learning from the way of life found in different regions will offer inspiration for shaping the future.