Kuukiyomi -

Help Us Bring This Film To You! CLICK

However, an art form this refined has a shadow side. When the ability to read the air becomes a social imperative, it can lead to a phenomenon known as kuuki wo yomu taken to the extreme: kuuki wo yomenai (KY)—being unable to read the air.

Ultimately, kuukiyomi is a form of mindfulness. It requires one to step outside of the ego and become an observer of the self in relation to others. It demands a surrender of the "I" for the sake of the "we."