A core aspect of ikigai is presence not being consumed by regrets of the past or worries about the future.

9. Live in the Moment

A life anchored in purpose offers direction and resilience against existential emptiness, a concept supported by logotherapy (Viktor Frankl) and self-determination theory.

10. Follow Your Ikigai

Unlike Western individualistic notions of success and productivity, ikigai is relational, spiritual, and process-oriented. It is not a goal to chase, but a way of being that unfolds through daily engagement, especially in community and with simplicity.Ikigai is less about achievement and more about sustainable meaning. This resonates with existential psychology, where fulfillment is tied not to external rewards, but to one’s inner sense of coherence and contribution.

Cultural and Existential Implications

Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life (2016) explores the cultural and psychological concept of ikigai is a Japanese term loosely translated as “a reason for being” or “a reason to wake up in the morning.” The book blends insights from positive psychology, longevity research, neuroscience, and Japanese philosophy, particularly drawing from the lifestyles of centenarians in Okinawa, one of the world’s “Blue Zones” known for remarkable life expectancy.

Introduction

The authors distill several lifestyle principles common among the long-lived individuals in Okinawa:

Key Elements of Ikigai and Longevity

Purposeful activity promotes physical and cognitive health. Retirement, in the Western sense, is considered counterproductive if it leads to disengagement. Even small daily routines, like gardening or teaching, are essential.

1. Stay Active, Don’t Retire

This Confucian teaching encourages caloric moderation, which aligns with contemporary research on caloric restriction and its links to increased longevity and reduced oxidative stress.

3. Only Eat Until You're 80% Full (Hara Hachi Bu)

Social connection is a strong predictor of both happiness and health, echoing findings from the Harvard Study of Adult Development and other social psychology research.

4. Surround Yourself with Good Friends

Physical activity, especially low-intensity, frequent movement (like walking, tai chi, gardening), is integral to maintaining mobility and cardiovascular health.

5. Get in Shape for Your Next Birthday

Being in touch with natural rhythms supports mental health, reduces stress hormones (cortisol), and increases parasympathetic activity.

7. Reconnect with Nature

Daily expressions of gratitude are shown to increase dopamine, reduce stress, and improve immune response.

8. Give Thanks

Practicing gratitude and positive emotions contributes to psychological well-being and reinforces prosocial behavior.

6. Smile and Acknowledge Others

The authors reinforce the concept of ikigai through psychological theories:<ol><li>Positive Psychology – Emphasizes strengths, purpose, and meaning (Seligman, 2002)</li><li>Flow Theory (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990) – Deep immersion in meaningful activity is a key source of happiness</li><li>Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985) – Intrinsic motivation through autonomy, competence, and relatedness</li><li>Blue Zones Research (Buettner, 2008) – Ikigai is a shared trait in longevity hotspots around the globe</li></ol>

Scientific Insights and Theoretical Basis

The book Ikigai is both inspirational and grounded in science, offering practical guidance for cultivating a life of purpose and joy. It encourages readers to reflect on their passions, strengths, values, and social roles, and to live with intention and gratitude.In the search for longevity, the ultimate insight is not a miracle diet or exercise regimen, but rather the consistent pursuit of one’s ikigai is the unique convergence of love, skill, and meaning that sustains life with vitality and grace.

Conclusion

Ikigai is positioned at the intersection of four fundamental components:<ol><li>What you love (passion)</li><li>What you are good at (vocation)</li><li>What the world needs (mission)</li><li>What you can be paid for (profession)</li></ol>This Venn diagram has become an iconic representation of life-purpose alignment. The book argues that discovering one’s ikigai fosters intrinsic motivation, resilience, and well-being.

Defining Ikigai

A mindful and unhurried life leads to greater mental clarity and emotional balance. The emphasis is on being present, a concept aligned with Zen Buddhism and mindfulness psychology.

2. Take It Slow

Discover the Japanese philosophy of ikigai is your reason for being. Learn how purpose, simplicity, connection, and daily rituals can lead to a long, joyful, and meaningful life, as practiced by Okinawan centenarians.

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • 1.5 MILLION+ COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE “Workers looking for more fulfilling positions should start by identifying their ikigai.” ―Business Insider   “One of the unintended—yet positive—consequences of the [pandemic] is that it is forcing people to reevaluate their jobs, careers, and lives. Use this time wisely, find your personal ikigai, and live your best life.” ―Forbes Find your ikigai (pronounced ee-key-guy) to live longer and bring more meaning and joy to all your days. “Only staying active will make you want to live a hundred years.” —Japanese proverb   According to the Japanese, everyone has an ikigai—a reason for living. And according to the residents of the Japanese village with the world’s longest-living people, finding it is the key to a happier and longer life. Having a strong sense of ikigai—where what you love, what you’re good at, what you can get paid for, and what the world needs all overlap—means that each day is infused with meaning. It’s the reason we get up in the morning. It’s also the reason many Japanese never really retire (in fact there’s no word in Japanese that means retire in the sense it does in English): They remain active and work at what they enjoy, because they’ve found a real purpose in life—the happiness of always being busy. In researching this book, the authors interviewed the residents of the Japanese village with the highest percentage of 100-year-olds—one of the world’s Blue Zones. Ikigai reveals the secrets to their longevity and happiness: how they eat, how they move, how they work, how they foster collaboration and community, and—their best-kept secret—how they find the ikigai that brings satisfaction to their lives. And it provides practical tools to help you discover your own ikigai. Because who doesn’t want to find happiness in every day?

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Hector Garcia was born in Spain in 1981 and has been living in Tokyo since 2004. During his spare time he writes aGeekinJapan.com, one of the most widely-read blogs in the world in Spanish and in English, as well as books about his experiences in Japan. He is the author of the bestsellers: Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life and A Geek in Japan. You can find more of Hector's musings at ageekinjapan.com

Héctor García

Francesc Miralles Contijoch is a Catalan writer, essayist, translator, and musician.