Jeremy Maluf is that New Yorker who has all his possessions in one bag that he carries with him all the time. He approaches his file and data management similarly. Recently his bag was stolen, but then he bought new devices and recovered all data in 15 minutes. That involves over-reliance on Google and Apple services. Not a lifestyle I want to chase, but something to learn here.

In 2015 I got rid of everything I owned that didn’t fit in a laptop backpack, and I’ve been living at this level of minimalism since. The idea is to only own what I need, which allows me to focus more, spend less, travel spontaneously and simplify my life.

The world sees Japan as a paragon of minimalism. But its hidden clutter culture shows that ‘more’ can be as magical as ‘less’