Marie Kondo rose to international fame with her bestselling books and the “KonMari method,” which encouraged millions to tidy their homes – and their lives.

The concept is simple: keep only the items that “spark joy,” and bid a grateful farewell to the rest.

Now she’s out with a new book, “Letter from Japan,” which explores the Japanese customs and principles that inform her philosophy on tidying and mindful living.

The essay-style book features reflections on cultural touchstones, such as relaxing at an onsen, snacking on onigiri or reading manga. But it also dives into more figurative Japanese concepts like kawaii – the idea of finding charm and joy in cuteness.

“In our daily lives, we often live with the notion that, as adults, we must always behave properly and be composed,” Kondo told HuffPost via email through an interpreter.

“But simply having an item that you personally find ‘kawaii’ can bring a sense of softness and relaxation into your everyday routine – even if it isn’t meant to be shown to others.”

She’s personally a fan of the popular kawaii character Chiikawa, who adorns a small cosmetic pouch she carries.

“No matter how busy my day is, whenever I open my bag and see Chiikawa’s disarming smile, it somehow reminds me to pause and take a deep breath,” Kondo said. “It feels almost as if this tiny, adorable character is cheering me on – bringing a gentle warmth and calm to my heart. I think that’s the special effect of a kawaii character.”

She believes nurturing the sensibility to notice what’s kawaii in our lives can deepen our sense of gratitude and affection for the things we already have.

That same appreciation for life’s small joys, as well as its inevitable messes, runs through “Letter from Japan,” which arrives almost three years after Kondo made headlines for admitting that she had “kind of given up on” keeping her home tidy as a mother of three.

But rather than a departure from her previous philosophy, the author says, this newer, gentler perspective is simply a natural extension of it.

“The ideas of ‘perfection’ and ‘mastery’ that I discuss in ‘Letter from Japan’ don’t mean that we must always maintain a flawless state,” Kondo said.

“Rather, they express the importance of having the desire to grow toward an ideal goal – the respect and beauty found in the path toward perfection itself. I believe that the imperfections and struggles we encounter along that path are themselves deeply beautiful and meaningful.”

Kondo added that embracing imperfection, especially as a parent, has become an important part of how she finds calm and meaning in daily life.

“When it comes to balancing perfection and imperfection, I think what matters most is accepting and loving yourself as you are now – including your imperfections – while still holding onto your aspiration to improve,” Kondo explained.

“For example, even if I’m not able to tidy my home perfectly in the way I ideally would, I believe it’s important to maintain that sense of aspiration – the inner desire to move toward that ideal state.”

At the same time, she aims to embrace her reality as it is in the moment.

“Even if life becomes so busy that I can’t keep my home perfectly tidy, I remind myself to approach that situation with compassion and to cherish my life as a whole,” she said.

“The key is not whether everything is in perfect order, but whether you’re caring for what truly matters most in your life. In my case, since I’m raising children right now, what matters most is spending time communicating with them and maintaining a healthy balance so that I can be fully present as my best self.”

The goal is not a spotless house, but a balanced life. It’s about compromise and self-compassion. As Kondo notes in her book, all the children’s toys and books that pile up in her home nurture her little ones’ sense of beauty, wonder and curiosity.

And while she has less time to tidy, her day-to-day reality is filled with joyous moments with her kids … and still some opportunities for her cleaning rituals, too.

“Even if tidying has taken a lower priority for the moment, I still feel that I’m living a life that sparks joy – and that sense of awareness is what’s truly important,” Kondo said.

That same embrace of imperfection extends even to how Kondo views one of her most viral moments: the “I love mess!” meme. This clip from her 2019 Netflix show, “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo,” still pops up frequently on social media in cheeky posts about everything from cluttered apartments to chaotic love lives.

“When I come across that meme… well, I still find it quite endearing even now,” Kondo told HuffPost. “I suppose it’s because my excitement whenever I’m at a tidying site hasn’t changed at all – I still genuinely feel that spark of joy. Seeing it reminds me, ‘Yes, that’s exactly how I feel – tidying really is fun.’”

As for the meme’s place in her legacy, she’s nothing but appreciative.

“I’m actually proud if it has helped even a little to convey the idea that tidying is fun,” Kondo said. “Tidying is often seen as something bothersome or as an obligation, something you have to do. But if this moment helped people realise that the very process of bringing order to a messy space can be fun in itself, then I’m truly happy. It feels like a meaningful part of my purpose.”