In a world that often feels fractured, hurried, and disconnected, Hiroko Yoda invites readers to pause, breathe, and rediscover the many paths to meaning and joy in her new book, Eight Million Ways to Happiness (Hardback, 368 pages, Released 1 January 2026).

Yoda, a certified Shinto cultural historian and veteran journalist, takes readers on a deeply personal pilgrimage through Japan’s spiritual traditions. From Shinto shrines to Buddhist temples, and the mystical peaks of Shugendo, she uncovers the practices that quietly shape daily life in Japan. These are not abstract philosophies, but living, breathing traditions that blend seamlessly with the modern, secular world—so seamlessly, in fact, that even locals often forget they exist.

The journey is intensely human. Grappling with profound personal loss, Yoda draws on centuries-old wisdom to illuminate how spiritual practices—rituals, meditations, nature walks, and communal celebrations—can provide solace, guidance, and a renewed sense of connection. Through storytelling that is vivid, lyrical, and often playful, she shows how gratitude, presence, and kinship with nature can quietly transform life.

“There are millions of ways to be happy. You just have to find yours,” Yoda writes—a sentiment that resonates powerfully in an era of burnout, uncertainty, and constant comparison.

The book has already garnered acclaim from luminaries in literature, wellness, and cultural commentary. Ruth Ozeki calls it “a timely and moving pilgrimage through Japan’s ancient spiritual traditions”, while Mary Roach praises Yoda’s approach as “guidance rather than rules, generosity instead of judgment…No woo-woo spiritual blather here.” Readers are invited into an intimate journey of remembrance, healing, and cultural exploration that blends memoir, travelogue, and anthropology.

Hiroko Yoda is uniquely positioned to guide this exploration. A former CNN Go editor and National Geographic field producer, she has spent her life building bridges between East and West. She is also the coauthor of the popular Yokai Attack! series, bringing Japanese folklore and culture to a global audience. In Eight Million Ways to Happiness, she channels her storytelling, scholarship, and personal experience into a book that is at once practical, profound, and uplifting.

For anyone searching for meaning, seeking solace, or simply curious about the spiritual heartbeat of Japan, Eight Million Ways to Happiness promises a journey that is as moving as it is illuminating—showing that the road to joy may be less a straight path than a series of quiet steps through ritual, reflection, and connection.