37 FramesThe Meaning Behind Tsundoku
Japan has a word for everything. Even for that leaning tower of unread books on your nightstand. Tsundoku (積ん読) literally means “to let books pile up, unread.”
But it’s not about laziness or guilt. It’s about potential. Every book you don’t open is still full of worlds waiting to be discovered. Tsundoku is an acknowledgement that life is too rich, too short, too overflowing to consume everything right away. And yet, you keep them. Because deep down, you know they belong to your story.
Our Lives Are Full of Unread Stories
Tsundoku isn’t just about books. It’s about the lives we live, the places we dream of, the weddings we plan, the stories we want to tell.
We’ve all got a stack of “someday” stories. The destinations we’ll photograph, the ideas we’ll build into films, the concepts we’ll bring to life when the right couple comes along. Our version of Tsundoku looks less like bookshelves and more like external hard drives, Pinterest boards, notebooks full of scribbles at 2am, and a “wedding inspiration” folder the size of a small galaxy.
Some things in those stacks will never be opened. And that’s okay. They still shaped us. They still pushed us forward.
What Tsundoku Teaches Us About Weddings
Planning a wedding isn’t about ticking off every idea you’ve ever pinned. It’s about curating. Choosing the few that matter most, and letting the rest stay in the stack.
We tell our couples: you don’t need to use every idea you’ve ever loved. You don’t need to throw in fireworks, a tea ceremony, a disco ball, three outfit changes, and a mountaintop helicopter ride all in one day (though honestly, that would be quite the party).
You just need the right ones. The ones that make your story feel whole. The others? They’re your tsundoku. The ideas that may never leave the page, but were part of how you found the essence of what mattered.
The Art of Collecting Without Consuming
We’ve come to see tsundoku as generosity, not waste. To keep things you haven’t yet read … or haven’t yet lived … is to believe in the possibility of more.
As artists, it’s a reminder not to beat ourselves up for every unfinished project or unedited reel. As planners, it’s the understanding that no wedding has to hold everything … because it can’t. The beauty is in what you do choose, not what’s left behind.
And in life? It’s a gentle nudge to stop shaming ourselves for the “undone.” The stack doesn’t mean failure. It means you’re still curious. Still alive. Still reaching.
Final Reflection
Tsundoku is the poetry of what remains unread. The reminder that not everything has to be consumed, finished, or completed to have value.
The books you haven’t opened, the ideas you haven’t used, the stories you haven’t told yet … they’re still part of you. They shape your shelves. They shape your vision. They remind you there is always more waiting.
And isn’t that what keeps us showing up? The possibility of the next page, the next wedding, the next story.
📍 Built on unread chapters and untold stories | 37 Frames
📋 Planning | 📸 Photography | 🎥 Film by @37frames
To continue your journey through the resonance of Japanese philosophy, read more in our Japanese Word Series here:
- wabi-sabi – a philosophy celebrating beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and the simple, natural flow of life. a reminder that flaws, cracks and changes make everything more meaningful.
- nagomi – the ancient Japanese philosophy that helps you find balance and peace in everything you do. feeling of balance, comfort, and calm in the heart and mind, the way to live a balanced and harmonious life the Japanese way.
- omotenashi – the spirit of selfless hospitality. a deep-rooted cultural concept that goes beyond simple politeness, embodying a genuine desire to anticipate the needs of others and provide an unforgettable experience.
…and so many more to come. Whispers of meaning, guiding your heart and vision.
37 Frames
