Rediscovering Brown Rice: A Simple Reset for My Life

A few weeks ago, I joined a fasting retreat in Japan. My weight didn’t change very much, but my way of living did.

The experience forced me to stop and think about my eating habits — something I hadn’t done seriously in a long time. I was often VERY hungry and uncomfortable during the retreat, but that discomfort became a powerful trigger for reflection.

We live surrounded by constant advertising and temptation, and our minds are always full of food-related noise. The retreat gave me space to step back from that.

After returning home, I began reading more about food and health, and that’s when I encountered macrobiotics again. I had practiced it lightly in the past, but this time, I felt a stronger pull toward its philosophy: simple, natural, balanced eating.

Experimenting with a Brown Rice–Centered Life

So I decided to try something very simple:

eating mainly brown rice.

Not every day — that would be unrealistic — but as often as I reasonably could.

In Japan, brown rice is easy to find. I get mine through a local tax donation program and cook it in a regular pot at home.

What surprised me most is not just how nourishing it feels, but how much mental space it creates.

When you eat mostly brown rice:

• You stop worrying so much about what to eat
• You use fewer dishes
• You spend less time shopping and cooking
• And your meals become beautifully simple

For several days, I ate nothing but brown rice — no side dishes, no complicated recipes.

I’m now watching closely: How will my weight change? Will my energy improve? Will my digestion feel different?

A Quiet Mind in a Noisy Food Culture

The fasting retreat reminded me how distracted our minds have become. Food is everywhere — commercials, convenience stores, social media, endless choices. Our brains are constantly stimulated, and we mistake that stimulation for desire.

Of course, eating is one of life’s great pleasures. I still love good food and always will. But I’m learning that food, like everything else, needs the right balance. Too much focus on it — or too little — both lead to problems.

When work gets busy, I often fall into convenience-store meals. But if I have brown rice ready at home, I already have a proper meal. Brown rice naturally contains vitamins and minerals, and it feels deeply grounding.

This approach fits perfectly with the simple, minimal life I’m trying to build.

Why Brown Rice Matters to Me

Brown rice is not a trend for me. It’s a tool — a way to calm my mind, steady my body, and simplify my daily decisions.

Through this small practice, I’m rediscovering something essential: health doesn’t have to be complicated.

Sometimes, one bowl of rice is enough.