Craig Mod Returns — Epic Walks, The Art of Slowness, and More
Tim FerrissKey Moments
Craig Mod discusses walking, books, Japan's rural life, and finding deep connection.
Key Insights
Living in small spaces (six-tatami rooms) and embracing constraints can foster creativity.
Epic walks, particularly in Japan's pilgrimage routes, offer profound self-discovery and connection.
The art of slowness, cultivating boredom, and radical presence are essential for meaningful experiences.
Authentic communication and deep curiosity, exemplified by John McBride's interactions, unlock genuine human connection.
Craig Mod's 'Kissa by Kissa' book success highlights the power of independent publishing and community building.
Reconnecting with his birth family provided Craig with unexpected personal growth and affirmation.
THE BEAUTY OF CONSTRAINTS AND SMALL SPACES
Craig Mod reflects on his early adult life in a six-tatami mat room in Japan, drawing a parallel to Wim Wenders' film "Perfect Days." Mod highlights how limitations, such as small living spaces and concise film production schedules, can paradoxically foster creativity and depth. He notes that "Perfect Days," despite its slow pace and repetitive nature, becomes hypnotic and endearing, emphasizing the power of storytelling and character development even within constraints, much like his own minimalist living experience.
TRANSFORMATION THROUGH EPIC WALKS
Shifting from nocturnal explorations in Tokyo's Golden Gai to deep immersion in Japan's ancient pilgrimage trails, Craig Mod found a new purpose through 'epic walks.' He discusses his initial introduction to these routes, like the Kumano Kodo, through his mentor John McBride. These walks, characterized by rich natural beauty, spiritual syncretism, and the unique blend of Shinto and Buddhism, became a powerful catalyst for Mod's personal and creative journey.
THE POWER OF RADICAL PRESENCE AND CULTIVATING BOREDOM
Mod outlines his strict rules for walking: no news, no social media, and no teleporting (quick digital escapes). The intention is to cultivate radical presence and embrace boredom, drawing parallels to his experience with a 10-day Vipassana retreat. By minimizing distractions and engaging fully with the present moment, he finds a deep wellspring of creativity and a profound sense of connection to his surroundings and himself.
MASTERING INTERACTION: THE ART OF JAPANESE COMMUNICATION
Craig Mod emphasizes the crucial role of nuanced Japanese communication, particularly the respectful and honorific language, in building connections. He illustrates this through his observations of John McBride, whose deep understanding of tea ceremony etiquette and years of high-level business interactions allowed him to connect profoundly with locals through genuine curiosity and reverence. This mastery of language unlocked doors and fostered trust in ways that simple politeness in English cannot convey.
THE BIRTH OF 'KISSA BY KISSA' AND INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING
Mod's walk along the Nakasendo trail led to his acclaimed book, 'Kissa by Kissa,' inspired by the ubiquitous post-war Japanese cafes and their simple fare like 'pizza toast.' The book's unexpected success, selling thousands of copies, demonstrated a strong market fit for his independent publishing model. He recounts how establishing his own platform, 'Craig Starter' on Shopify, allowed for creative control and fostered a direct connection with his audience, offering them a tangible return on their investment in his work.
NAVIGATING SCALE AND COMMITMENT
Mod champions a deliberate approach to scale, emphasizing sustainability and creative freedom over mass reach. His philosophy, rooted in his experiences with large tech companies and independent publishing, prioritizes work that resonates deeply. This is reflected in his membership program's rules, which prioritize clear creative goals and an 'obsessive, irrational adherence to deadlines,' ensuring that the program serves the goals, not the members alone.
THE IMPACT OF THE NEW YORK TIMES LIST AND CELEBRITY IN JAPAN
Mod's recommendation of Morioka to The New York Times' '52 Places to Go' list unexpectedly propelled the mid-sized city into international recognition. This led to a whirlwind of media appearances and a unique role in promoting lesser-known Japanese cities. He describes his experience walking with Japanese television icon Tamori-san, highlighting the intense, almost overwhelming, public adoration he witnessed and his sense of duty to leverage the spotlight for the benefit of these communities.
REDEFINING ORIGINS: A JOURNEY OF FAMILY AND SELF-DISCOVERY
A profound personal arc unfolded when Mod reconnected with his birth mother through Ancestry.com. This journey of uncovering his genetic history and understanding his upbringing, including a complex narrative about his biological father, became a powerful catalyst for healing and self-acceptance. The experience, marked by open communication and a willingness to embrace newfound familial connections, ultimately led to profound personal growth and a deeper understanding of his own identity.
SEEKING AUTHENTICITY AND EMOTIONAL EXPANSION
Mod's recent book with Random House represents a deliberate step outside his comfort zone, aiming to bring his story of friendship and societal commentary to a broader audience. This collaboration allowed him to explore emotional depths he couldn't access independently. His journey, from a sense of scarcity to profound abundance, is marked by the unfolding of his birth family connections, a gradual 'unraveling' that opens his heart and strengthens his sense of self-worth.
Mentioned in This Episode
●Products
●Software & Apps
●Tools
●Companies
●Organizations
●Books
●Concepts
●People Referenced
Common Questions
In Japan, rooms were traditionally measured by the number of tatami mats. A six-mat room signifies a relatively small living space, with each mat typically measuring 2 meters by half a meter. Craig Mod lived in such a room from age 22 to 35, finding it aesthetic and affordable.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
A historically significant Japanese filmmaker known for his consistent narrative of daughters marrying and leaving their fathers, and whose films embody the Showa era.
One of the historic roads in Japan, walked by John McBride, and now followed by the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train route.
Craig Mod's self-published book about his walk, pizza toast, and kissaten, which sold thousands of copies unexpectedly and led to the "Craigstarter" platform.
A Wim Wenders film from the 1980s that captures Tokyo during that era, as the director searched for traces of Yasujiro Ozu.
A network of UNESCO World Heritage pilgrimage trails in Japan, known for its rich nature, spiritual syncretism, and traditional temples.
The location of Marathon Monks known for their endurance and aesthetic practices, referenced as an example of mountain aesthetic practice.
One of the two main arteries of Edo period Japan, a northern, more mountainous route with fewer river crossings, preferred by some over the Tokaido.
Craig Mod's upcoming book, published by Random House, which explores themes of friendship, childhood, societal commentary, and his COVID-era walk around a depopulated peninsula.
A beautiful, under-visited city in Japan that can be reached via the Hagi Okan walk from Yamaguchi City.
Craig Mod's "walk-and-talk" methodology, describing how he and Kevin Kelly structure their extensive walking and conversation experiences.
The author of 'Cloud Atlas,' who sent Craig Mod a 2,000-word email praising 'Things Become Other Things,' making his week.
A historical fiction novel by David Mitchell, set in Nagasaki, cited as one of Craig Mod's favorites by the author.
A district in Tokyo, home to Golden Gai and Kabukicho, a red-light district.
A scholarship program, likely from Japan's Ministry of Education, which John McBride received to study in Japan.
A 10-day meditation retreat Craig Mod attended, foundational for his walking rules and cultivating attention control.
A software used by Craig Mod and Neil Strauss to disable distractions on devices, making them 'boring' and aiding focus on writing.
A detour on the Tokaido route, designed to avoid a specific river crossing, reportedly favored by women.
The aging population issue in Japan, which is palpable in the depopulated countryside.
The city recommended by Craig Mod to the New York Times in the most recent list, which outranked Osaka despite its upcoming Expo.
A candy, used as a metaphor for a small hint or clue to a larger story.
The university in Japan where John McBride studied on a Mombusho scholarship, as mentioned by Craig Mod.
Aesthetic training that involves rigorous physical and mental discipline, often in mountains, described by Craig Mod as similar to his long walks.
Another mid-sized city in Japan recommended by Craig Mod to the New York Times, ranked number three on the list.
A red-light district in Shinjuku, Tokyo, near Golden Gai.
A famous travelogue by Basho, whose path John McBride walked.
The designation for the Kumano Kodo and Camino de Santiago, recognizing their global cultural and spiritual significance.
A type of aestheticism involving training in the mountains, including smoke inhalation, sleep deprivation, and fasting.
A period in Japanese history when the Shogun's rule led to the creation of roads like the Nakasendo for daimyos' annual commutes.
Tamori's long-running walking show, which has been popular for decades.
A translation tool mentioned as helpful for non-Japanese speakers to navigate experiences in Japan.
A recommended Ozu film, known for its beautiful title.
Refers to Japanese convenience stores, where Craig Mod would often buy food after his long walks.
Writer of an article about Korea's even lower birth rate situation.
The period in Japanese history from 1926 to 1989, characterized by post-war Japan, mid-century modern architecture, and the rise of kissaten.
An author whose book covers are designed by John Gray, who is also a contact for Craig Mod.
German filmmaker who directed 'Perfect Days' and 'Tokyo-Ga,' the latter documenting Tokyo in the 1980s while he searched for the legacy of filmmaker Ozu.
A website featuring almost entirely nighttime shots of urban Japan, known for its beautiful compilation and artistic photography.
A Shingon Buddhist epicenter on the Kii Peninsula, part of the Kumano Kodo, described as a beautiful 'power spot' and home to an astounding graveyard.
A Japanese prefecture that, along with Tanabe city, invested in infrastructure and marketing to promote the Nakahichi section of the Kumano Kodo to international tourists.
A book by Anne Lamott on writing, which inspired the title of Kissa by Kissa.
A mid-sized city in Tohoku, Japan, recommended by Craig Mod to the New York Times, which unexpectedly ranked number two globally, causing a media sensation in Japan and a significant economic impact.
A great onsen town connected to Yamaguchi City, mentioned as a good starting point for the Hagi Okan walk.
A famous book by David Mitchell, mentioned as a reference for readers who might enjoy Craig Mod's work.
A post-war black market drinking area in Shinjuku, Tokyo, that evolved into a hub for artists and filmmakers, but has since become a tourist circus due to social media.
Craig Mod's mentor and walking companion, an Australian literature professor and former CEO of Sky TV Japan, known for his exceptional Japanese language skills and deep cultural understanding.
An English teaching program that places participants in rural areas of Japan.
The prefecture in Japan where Morioka is located.
A Wim Wenders film whose protagonist lives in a room similar to Craig Mod's early Japanese residence, starting slow but becoming hypnotic and endearing.
A cluster of three sacred mountains in Yamagata, Japan, known for their syncretic history where Shinto and Buddhism coexist, similar to the Kii Peninsula.
Mentioned as an American equivalent to Morioka in terms of local pride and unexpected appeal.
An inn located above a tofu shop along the Hagi Okan trail, where visitors can stay even without speaking Japanese.
A film by Kurosawa, contrasted with Ozu's style where 'nothing happens.'
One of Japan's main islands, known for its pilgrimage trails, which John McBride walked.
A feature in iOS that allows users to create custom shortcuts, used by Craig Mod to dictate notes without interacting with his phone.
The low birth rate issue in Japan, currently at 1.2 children per woman, contributing to depopulation in rural areas.
Old-style, Showa-era Japanese cafes that emerged post-war as community hubs, known for serving simple, affordable meals like pizza toast and napolitan spaghetti.
A UK publisher known for producing beautiful photo books, whose print runs are typically much smaller than the success of 'Kissa by Kissa.'
The publisher and president of Random House, editor of George Saunders, who eventually published Craig Mod's book 'Things Become Other Things.'
A two-day walking trail connecting Yamaguchi City and Hagi City, highly recommended by Craig Mod, featuring an inn above a tofu shop.
An organization, likely a municipality, behind an advertising campaign for unusual art-piece toilets that led to Wim Wenders making 'Perfect Days' about a toilet cleaner.
A book co-authored/co-produced by Craig Mod, which came out in 2007-2008 and was reprinted via Kickstarter in 2010.
A city in Wakayama Prefecture that played a key role in promoting the Nakahichi section of the Kumano Kodo, largely due to the efforts of a Canadian JET program participant named Brad.
Author of the book 'Bird by Bird,' which inspired Craig Mod's book title 'Kissa by Kissa.'
A region in northern Japan where Morioka is located.
A beautiful, 100-year-old cultural heritage inn from the Taisho era, located in Yuda Onsen, with amazing baths and gardens, run by the original family.
A genealogy platform Craig Mod used after 23andMe, where he successfully connected with his birth mother.
A major Japanese city with an Expo, which was still ranked lower than Toyama City on the New York Times '52 Places' list due to Craig Mod's pick.
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