September 25, 2025

Japanese principles in web development

I am a Dutch guy running a web development company in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. I am pretty tall, I love ‘bitterballen’ and when I say ‘grachten’ (canals) it sounds like I am clearing my throat. Yup… I am as Dutch as it gets. Yet, in my work I follow a lot of Japanese principles.

Kanso / Zen aesthetics

Eliminate clutter, keep only what’s essential.

• Minimalist UI design with clean layouts.
• Clear navigation and reduced cognitive load.
• Lightweight code and optimized performance.

Wabi-Sabi

Beauty lies in imperfection and impermanence.

• Accepting iteration and evolution—no product is “perfect,” it grows with users.
• Designing for graceful degradation: even if features fail, the site still works.
• Using subtle, organic textures or asymmetry in layouts.

Kaizen

Incremental, ongoing progress.

• Agile and iterative development cycles.
• Continuous deployment and small, frequent updates.
• Emphasis on testing, feedback loops, and optimization.

Shibui

Understated beauty that reveals depth over time.

• Avoiding flashy, overwhelming effects; focus on subtle animations and transitions.
• Layered experiences that reward deeper exploration.
• Typography and color schemes that balance simplicity with refinement.

Wa

Everything exists in relation to the whole.

• Cohesive design systems where UI elements feel consistent.
• Accessibility and inclusivity, ensuring harmony between different user needs.
• Cross-browser/device consistency.

Ma

Value lies not just in what’s there, but in the space between.

• Thoughtful use of whitespace for readability and focus.
• Intentional pacing in user flows, not rushing the experience.
• Allowing moments of pause—loading animations, confirmation states.

Takumi

Pride in skill, mastery, and attention to detail.

• Writing clean, maintainable, well-documented code.
• Polishing micro-interactions (hover states, button feedback).
• Designing with empathy and care for the end user.

A Dutch guy who follows these Japanese principles might seem weird. However, these principles give me purpose and direction.

I started appreciating them when I was in my early twenties (I am 45 years old now) and I try to live by these ‘rules’ ever since. It all started with a book about Zen, which really resonated. These principles have grown into a way of life that goes much further than just ‘web development’.

For example: I eat every grain of rice from my plate. I explain to my kids that I do this to be respectful to the food and to those who produced it. In Japan this is called ‘mottainai’. For me this is part of the principle that everything exists in relation to the whole. Being wasteful is disrespectful to the world and thus disrespectful to yourself, according to the principle of ‘Wa’.

Another example: my clients all behave like true friends. If not (which rarely happens) I let them go. This results in the fact that I hardly ever do ‘contracts’. My work is based on mutual trust and co-dependency. This is also an interpretation of the principle of ‘Wa’: we are one and our interests should align. This might not be the smartest thing to do from a money/business point of view. However, being able to afford this attitude nonetheless is something I am grateful for every day. And I love to think this improves not just my life, but the life of my clients as well.

()  Joost van der Schee