A Japanese Viewpoint on the Problems of Cleaning and Organizing Houses in Asia, including Japan, via the Kurashi at Home book, RentCafe, and an Interview with Marie Kondo

Kondo, who created the two-part Netflix series about organizing and tidying houses, has faced backlash before for saying one should keep 30 books, which she said was a misconception, and for seeming to paint tidiness as something that is innately Japanese.

The Japanese cleaning consultant recently told an audience that he wanted to spend time with his children at home, according to The Washington Post.

The person behind the KonMari method — decluttering by tossing anything that doesn’t “spark joy” — no longer (totally) practices what she preached. Some people shared their reactions on social media.

“Marie Kondo has given up on tidying her house after she had 3 kids and she was taught by her to only keep things that are joyful,” wrote one person on a social networking site.

“This was refreshing to read and very validation,” wrote one user. “I have 3 kids and have been trying out the KonMari method every 3 months but it’s just not feasible.”

But for Kondo, who says her cleaning philosophy is based partly in the native Japanese belief Shintoism, keeping a tidy house is only part of the practice.

In her latest book, “Kurashi at Home: How to Organize Your Space and Achieve Your Ideal Life,” Kondo explores the Japanese concept of kurashi, or “way of life,” expanding on simple ways to “spark joy every day and lead a joyful life.”

For people in Japan, as well as other parts of Asia, apartments are small and the need for a purge isn’t as much a trend as it is.

But that’s roughly the same as what you’ll get in Manhattan, where the average size of an apartment is 704 square feet, according to housing website RentCafe.

A Mother of Two: A Tidier Now That Is How I Am, Does My Home Have a Space? A Comment on Kondo on a Mother’s Dilemma

In other words, tidying in its most conventional sense has taken a back seat, with her teachings now focusing on what matters most in order to live one’s best life.

“Just after my older daughter was born, I felt unable to forgive myself for not being able to manage my life as I had before. But, with time, I eased up on myself; then, after I gave birth to my second daughter, I let go of my need for perfection altogether,” she wrote.

Kondo said that her home is messy, but she is spending her time in the right way.

According to The Washington Post, which reported on the event, the 38-year-old called herself a “professional tidier” who previously strived for a perfectly organized home. Now she knows that what is important to her is enjoying her time with her children.