In Japanese anger management, a technique that mirrors the Hakidashisara festival is used. People are allowed to smash small discs when they feel emotional. This technique involves putting your thoughts on paper if something makes you angry, and then destroying the paper. Researchers at Nagoya University in Japan found that this method almost completely eliminated feelings of anger.
The study conducted at Nagoya University’s Graduate School of Informatics had participants write short opinions on various topics and were then given negative feedback. They were instructed to write about what triggered their emotions in response to the feedback and then either throw the paper away, keep it or destroy it in a shredder. The researchers found that destroying the paper significantly reduced levels of anger.
This technique of writing down emotions and then destroying the paper may be helpful for managing anger and stress. It has origins in Japanese cultural traditions like the Hakidashisara festival, where people smash small discs to represent things that make them angry. This method could be useful for entrepreneurs or individuals experiencing stress, as it allows them to immediately confront and release their anger by writing it down and getting rid of the paper.
Overall, this study sheds light on the effectiveness of writing down emotions and physically destroying the paper as a way to manage anger. It provides a practical and accessible method for controlling emotions and stress, drawing on both scientific research and cultural traditions.