Japan is Gen-Z's India

Why is everyone suddenly obsessed with Japan — and didn't we do this before? In this episode of Gentle Chaos, we trace the millennial obsession with Indian culture in the 2000s and 2010s — the mandala tapestries, the yoga studios, the chai lattes and Eat Pray Love spiritual tourism — and ask whether Gen Z is doing the exact same thing with Japan right now. From Japandi interiors and matcha to ikigai Venn diagrams and record-breaking tourism numbers, the aesthetic has changed but the impulse looks familiar. For all updates straight to you inbox, follow the Gentle Chaos substack and for more on the show and more content, make sure to follow the show and check out Gentle Chaos on Tiktok, Youtube, and Instagram!  Topics covered: millennial India obsession, Gen Z Japan aesthetic, cultural appropriation, Japandi design, ikigai, wabi-sabi, matcha culture, Eat Pray Love, Slumdog Millionaire, Western Orientalism, generational identity, Gen Alpha predictions