Headline Home pre-empts Tanaka book on Japanese philosophy

Headline Home has pre-empted a book by Akemi Tanaka on Chowa, the Japanese philosophy of finding balance in life.

Senior commissioning editor Anna Steadman scooped world English language rights from Laetitia Rutherford at Watson, Little. The Power of Chowa: Finding Your Balance Using the Japanese Wisdom of Chowa will be published in hardback, e-book and audio this September.

Chowa is a Japanese concept that means the search for balance. The synopsis explains: “Chowa is both a philosophy and a set of practices that can help us get to the heart of what is most important to us and change our way of thinking about ourselves and others.”

Tanaka is descended from a family of Samurai who fought alongside the 15th Century warrior-poet Ota Dokan. She grew up in Japan, but now lives in London and is an established cultural communicator on Japan, regularly leading study tours back to her homeland, and giving presentations at schools, universities and cultural centres.

Steadman said: “I’m so looking forward to working with Akemi on this book. The Japanese wisdom of Chowa offers us a fresh perspective on how to live, and new ways to both make space and find balance among the many different directions that modern life pulls us in.”

Tanaka added: “Since leaving Japan and making a new life for myself in England, I have seen some aspects of Japanese culture in a new light. When I tell people about my culture, I find myself coming back again and again to Chowa and its simple lessons in finding balance. My book will be full of practical things we can all do in our daily lives to help us find our balance.”