Japanese man credits India for teaching him 'Dharma Yoga', a philosophy of living with kindness

The post received a wave of positive responses across platforms, with many praising Nozomu Hagihara’s thoughtful explanation of Indian philosophy.

A Japanese national living in India, Nozomu Hagihara, has drawn widespread attention online after posting a video about “Dharma Yoga”, a philosophy he said had changed his understanding of life. The video, which has since gone viral on social media, shows Hagihara reflecting on the deeper meaning of yoga — beyond physical postures — as a guide for living with awareness, kindness and purpose.

In the video, Hagihara explained that Dharma Yoga is built on values drawn from the Yoga Sutras, particularly the concepts of Yama (restraint) and Niyama (discipline). These, he said, form the foundation of an ethical way of living based on honesty, compassion, and self-discipline.

“Dharma Yoga teaches us to live with integrity,” Hagihara said, outlining the key principles it promotes. In his post, he elaborated, “It teaches us to embody values such as:

• Ahimsa (Non-violence): Compassion for all beings.
• Satya (Truthfulness): Being honest and authentic with ourselves and others.
• Asteya (Non-stealing): Not taking what isn’t freely given — including people’s time, trust, or energy.
• Brahmacharya (Moderation): Channeling our physical and mental energy wisely, practising self-control.
• Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness): Letting go of excessive attachment and greed.”

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The post received a wave of positive responses across platforms, with many praising Hagihara’s thoughtful explanation of Indian philosophy. One commenter wrote, “I started a small project in Jodhpur, we could invite you to have a seminar.” Another said, “You are amazing!! So inspirational!! I love Japan and all Japanese people. Thank you for your love for India.”

A third person remarked, “How well explained and simply put."