Meet Wakako Takagi

We recently connected with Wakako Takagi and have shared our conversation below.

Wakako, so great to have you with us today. There are so many topics we want to ask you about, but perhaps the one we can start with is burnout. How have you overcome or avoided burnout?

Being in nature always brings me back to the center. Whether it’s the ocean, forest, or desert, I love sitting still in the natural environment and letting my thoughts wander freely. Doing that usually resets my nervous system and keeps me from experiencing burnout.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My name is Wakako and I am a founder of Baum-kuchen. Baum-kuchen is an online store, brick-and-mortar, and, most importantly, an experience that infuses our love for slow life, our journey (within and out in the world), and all things analogue. In a world that feels fast-paced, chaotic, and all-consuming, I love to create an oasis where like-hearted people can come together to savor moments of connection.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Wabi-sabi // I grew up in Japan and still deeply resonate with some of the Japanese values. Wabi-sabi is a Japanese concept that loosely translates to “beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness.” Baum-kuchen is rich with this living philosophy, from how we approach the curation of artifacts and the stories we share to how we connect with our community. For example, we offer “Truly Yours.” It is a customization service for Traveler’s Notebook, a refillable leather notebook cover from Japan. The concept of this service originated from my desire to help people grow with their Traveler’s Notebooks instead of constantly purchasing new ones. The leather patinas and ages beautifully with every passing year, and I love how each Traveler’s Notebook tells a unique story. The Truly Yours service is one of the authentic case studies of the wabi-sabi concept manifested in Baum-kuchen.

Design process // I studied Design at ArtCenter College of Design and Southern California Institute of Architecture (Sci-arc). During those years of design school, I learned the power of the design process that can be applied to my personal and business life. The design process that I am deeply rooted in is not an aesthetic choice but trusting in the “process” of design. When I need to make a decision (big or small), I am comfortable brainstorming as many ideas as possible, narrowing them down to a few choices once I know that I have explored and expanded, and then testing those ideas out through prototyping. When I make a final decision after going through this process, I feel “lived in” with the idea and naturally lean into trusting how the outcome will unfold.

Everything happens for a reason // My brother passed away from a car accident when I was twelve. It was the most challenging and traumatic event that impacted my family and steered our life in a very significant way. Lessons from this tragic family circumstance were many, and they were long-lasting, life-shifting, and valuable, though it was painful to go through. Because of my experience with my brother’s life, I learned to trust that everything happens for a reason, even though it might not seem so. There is a bigger energy/force that evolves around each of us, and even the most painful experience in life can lead to a treasured lesson over time.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

By far, Momo by Michael Ende. My aunt introduced me to this book when I was about ten and the main character Momo has become my inspiration since then. I love how Momo can see the truth beyond what meets the eyes and how her authentic presence and her genuine listening skill can regulate the nervous system of everyone around her. In the story, she becomes the only one who can stop “time” from being stolen by the “Men in Grey”. I feel that the message in her book is still so resonant in today’s world when I think of how one’s time can simply slip through our finger tips when we get absorbed in technology and social media.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.baum-kuchen.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baumkuchenstudio/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyjRedUMZpX4X0nQJbF9ZDg?view_as=subscriber
• Other: https://recipeofbaumkuchen.substack.com/

Image Credits

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