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Marie KondoJapanese writer
Date of Birth: 09.10.1984
Country:  Japan |
Content:
Marie Kondo: The Queen of Decluttering
Early Life and EducationBorn in Japan, Marie Kondo's fascination with organizing began at an early age. Instead of playing with dolls, she immersed herself in homemaking magazines and books, implementing their principles in her own life. After completing high school, Kondo served as a miko (shrine maiden) for five years at a Shinto shrine. She then pursued a degree in sociology at Tokyo Woman's Christian University, where her thesis focused on the gendered aspect of tidying up: "Tidying Up as Seen from the Perspective of Gender."
The KonMari Method
During her studies, Kondo developed her own unique approach to organization, known as the KonMari method. This technique emphasizes the importance of discarding items that no longer spark joy and organizing the remaining possessions in a specific manner to maximize efficiency and comfort. Her ideas were first published in 2011 in her book "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing," which became an international bestseller, translated into over 30 languages.
Consulting and Media Stardom
In 1999, at the age of 19, Kondo founded a consulting business specializing in organizing. In 2013, a television drama was adapted from her book. She also released video lectures demonstrating her innovative folding techniques. In 2019, Netflix premiered the reality TV series "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo," which showcased her method in American homes and catapulted her to international fame. The series earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Reality Program.
Personal Life
Marie Kondo married Takumi Kawahara in 2012. Prior to their marriage, Kawahara worked in sales and marketing in Osaka. As Kondo's business flourished, he left his job to become her manager and eventually the CEO of Konmari Media, LLC. After their wedding, the couple initially resided in Tokyo before relocating to San Francisco and, later, Los Angeles. They have three children: daughters Satsuki (born 2015) and Miko (born 2016), and a son (born April 2021).
