Translation guide
A broad cultural and spiritual movement emphasizing holistic health, spirituality, and alternative beliefs. In Japanese, it is often referred to by the borrowed term ニューエイジ, but related concepts like 'spiritual' (スピリチュアル) are more common in everyday conversation.
New Age
Direct loanword, used for the movement or music genre.
spiritual (in the New Age sense)
Commonly used to describe New Age beliefs, practices, or people.
Referring to the broad spiritual and cultural movement that emerged in the West in the late 20th century.
Describing a personal interest in alternative spirituality, holistic healing, or esoteric practices typical of the New Age.
Means 'spiritual way of thinking' and is the most natural way to express New Age beliefs in personal contexts.
Referring to specific activities like crystal healing, aura cleansing, tarot, or meditation associated with the New Age.
'Spiritual healing' is a common term covering many New Age healing modalities.
Specifically referring to the musical genre characterized by soothing, atmospheric sounds.
The standard term for the music genre. Often abbreviated as ニューエイジ in context.
ニューエイジ is a direct reference to the Western movement and is used in academic or historical contexts, or for the music genre. スピリチュアル is far more common in everyday Japanese to describe personal beliefs, alternative healing, fortune-telling, and related lifestyles. A person who is 'into New Age stuff' would be described as スピリチュアルな人, not ニューエイジな人.
She is a very spiritual/New Age person.
ニューエイジミュージックはリラックスできる。
New Age music is relaxing.
While literally 'spiritual', this word is heavily associated with New Age practices in Japan, such as aura reading, power stones, and alternative healing. It often implies a New Age context.
Lately, I'm interested in New Age/spiritual things.
He has a New Age/spiritual outlook.
Literally 'spiritual world', this term is used for the realm of spirituality, mysticism, and New Age thought. It can sound slightly more formal or literary.
She dedicated her life to exploring the spiritual/New Age world.
She offers New Age/spiritual healing.
'Power stone' is a Japanese term for crystals and gemstones used for their supposed energetic properties, a staple of New Age shops.
I bought a power stone (New Age crystal) bracelet.
The loanword 'aura' is used in New Age contexts for the energy field around a person.
Some people claim they can see auras.
I listen to New Age music before sleeping.
'Healing music' is a broader category that overlaps significantly with New Age music in Japan.
This healing music (New Age style) calms my mind.
Do not translate 'New Age' literally as 新しい時代 (atarashii jidai). That means 'new era' in a general sense and does not convey the spiritual movement. Use the loanwords or related terms above.