The suffix “do(u)” (way) is attached to the names of many Japanese cultural pursuits, as in sado (tea ceremony), shodo (calligraphy), kado (flower arrangement), judo, and aikido. Sado is not only an enjoyable opportunity to savor a cup of tea. It’s about appreciating the chance to get to know someone you may never meet again, and treating them to a cup of tea while enriching your own spirit. This is also reflected in the way you look at things. For instance, discovering beauty not only in flamboyant cherry blossoms, but in a flower quietly blooming on a roadside or a withering bloom. Tea cups too, rather than being lavish, instead draw attention to a beauty that is rooted in the lives of ordinary folk. With Nihongo-do, language is not merely a communication tool. The mindset of the Japanese is reflected in the language. For instance, in Japan when addressing a colleague who is at work, you would say “otsukare sama” (I appreciate your work). When leaving ahead of others, you say “osaki ni (shitsurei shi masu)” (I’m leaving now). This phrase implies that you are sorry to leave ahead of others. Japanese has many unique ways to express consideration for others, including “osewa ni natte i masu” (Thank you for everything you’ve done for me). Furthermore, Japanese people often convey their intentions indirectly or without words. This is born from a deep rooted distaste for harming others. It is the basis upon which the so called “Japanese culture of sensitivity” was built.