About the Book
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the demands of daily life?
Struggling to find enough time, energy, or resources to pursue your dreams?
YOU NEED YOYU!
Get ready for a fresh perspective on managing life's challenges through the lens of yoyu-a Japanese concept expressing bandwidth, capacity, or oomph. Yoyu is the essence of having enough (or more than enough) time, money, energy, or other resources.
Drawing from her experiences living in Japan for 30+ years and caring for her Japanese father-in-law, Marci explores seven essential aspects of yoyu, including time, energy, money, and spirituality. Through engaging stories and practical exercises, she guides readers on a journey to reclaim balance and abundance.
Finding Yoyu is for you if:
Balancing family and work feels like an uphill battle and you want to learn how to leverage small pockets of time and focus on what truly matters.
Despite efforts to plan ahead, you face a persistent lack of energy and need energy-boosting strategies for everyday life and those emergencies when you accidentally hit exhaustion.
Helping family is a priority, but you're feeling financially constrained, struggling to see the positives, and need a way to recognize and leverage other forms of abundance.
Family members don't understand or respect your personal space needs, and the absence of dedicated space calls for ingenious solutions for communicating those needs and how you use shared spaces.
Avoiding issues is no longer an option, and you need to feel empowered and centered so that you can initiate difficult conversations with your loved ones.
Fatigue and stress from daily life lead to overreactions and inappropriate emotional outbursts that inadvertently hurt your loved ones and you need a way to intercept these outbursts before they occur.
Taking care of everyone and everything leaves you feeling tired, lonely, and disengaged and you need a way to tap into the interconnectedness of all things and find joy again.
Targeted at women navigating the complexities of midlife, Finding Yoyu offers a unique blend of cultural insight, personal narrative, and actionable advice. Whether you're dreaming of starting a new career or nurturing your creative passions and instead feel the weight of caring for loved ones with nothing left over for yourself, this book will empower you to embrace abundance and live with purpose.
Marci Kobayashi is a seasoned writer, teacher, and entrepreneur based in Hiroshima. With over three decades of experience living and working in Japan, she brings a wealth of cultural wisdom to her writing. Finding Yoyu is her latest endeavor, born from her journey of caregiving, spiritual exploration, and personal growth.
About the Author :
Marci Kobayashi is a writer, entrepreneur, and coach who has lived in Japan for over three decades. She is the founder of International Education Blueprint Inc. (IEB Inc.), a company that evolved from study abroad advising to web design, development, and coaching. Drawing from her experiences as a caregiver and business owner, she explores the Japanese concept of yoyu. This powerful idea helps create space in life-whether time, energy, or emotional reserves-to avoid burnout and cultivate balance and resilience. Her writing blends personal storytelling, spirituality, and practical wisdom to help others cultivate balance and resilience. Originally from the West Coast of the U.S., she now lives in Hiroshima, Japan. Learn more at MarciKobayashi.com.
Review :
"Finding Yoyu is a heartfelt and insightful exploration of how a single Japanese concept, "yoyu," can transform the way we navigate life's challenges. Marci Kobayashi blends personal anecdotes with cultural wisdom to introduce this idea, which refers to the leeway or reserves we need, be it time, energy, or emotional space, to handle life's ups and downs. The book is part memoir, part guide, and entirely relatable, offering practical advice to cultivate balance and abundance in various aspects of life.
What I loved most about this book is how Marci's stories feel so personal and honest. Early on, she shares how she managed her father-in-law's Alzheimer's while supporting her husband through cancer treatment, a time of overwhelming pressure. Instead of sinking into despair, she learned to "take a mini runaway," or "puchi-iede," for moments of solitude and renewal. Her vulnerability in admitting she didn't always handle things gracefully made her triumphs feel even more inspiring. The practice of embracing micro-moments to recharge felt like a revelation, especially when she described the simple act of breathing for five seconds as a way to center herself.
The writing is approachable, conversational, and peppered with cultural insights that elevate the narrative. Marci's explanation of the kanji behind "yo" (overflow) and "yu" (abundance) gave depth to what might otherwise seem like a simple concept. Her real-life example of negotiating caregiving duties with her husband, Akira, stood out as a lesson in communication and compromise.
I found the breakdown of the seven types of yoyu (time, energy, money, space, capability, emotions, and spirituality) and the examples provided to be illuminating. The inclusion of specific practices, such as the "Dozo Gratitude Walk," keeps the reader engaged and encourages action.
Finding Yoyu is a gentle companion for anyone navigating tough times. I'd recommend it to caregivers, busy professionals, or anyone feeling stretched too thin. This book encourages us to pause, assess, and make space for the things that matter most. Marci's voice is like a trusted friend reminding us that with a little yoyu, even the hardest days can become more manageable."
Rating: ★★★★★
- Literary Titan
Marci knows Japan intimately and deeply which is evident in how she illustrates adroitly how anyone can bring an abundance of 'yoyu' into their daily lives. An enthusiastic thumb's up!"
- Rev. Prof. Todd Jay Leonard, author of Words of Inspiration and Talking to the Other Side
