Ikigai

Ikigai
is a Japanese concept referring to something that gives a person a sense of purpose, a reason for living.
Meaning and etymology
The Oxford English Dictionary defines as "a motivating force; something or someone that gives a person a sense of purpose or a reason for living". More generally it may refer to something that brings pleasure or fulfilment.
The term compounds two Japanese words: and (sequentially voiced as , to arrive at 'a reason for living [being alive]; a meaning for [to] life; what [something that] makes life worth living; a 'raison d'être'.
Overview
can describe having a sense of purpose in life, as well as being motivated. According to a study by Michiko Kumano, feeling as described in Japanese usually means the feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment that follows when people pursue their passions. Activities that generate the feeling of are not forced on an individual; they are perceived as being spontaneous and undertaken willingly, and thus are personal and depend on a person's inner self.
According to psychologist Katsuya Inoue, is a concept consisting of two aspects: "sources or objects that bring value or meaning to life" and "a feeling that one's life has value or meaning because of the existence of its source or object". Inoue classifies into three directions – social , non-social , and anti-social – from a social perspective. Social refers to that are accepted by society through volunteer activities and circle activities. An asocial is an that is not directly related to society, such as faith or self-discipline. Anti-social refers to , which is the basic motivation for living through dark emotions, such as the desire to hate someone or something or to continue having a desire for revenge.
National Geographic reporter Dan Buettner suggested may be one of the reasons for the longevity of the people of Okinawa. According to Buettner, Okinawans have less desire to retire, as people continue to do their favourite job as long as they remain healthy. , a close-knit friend group, is also considered an important reason for the people of Okinawa to live long.
Early popularisation
Although the concept of has long existed in Japanese culture, it was first popularised by Japanese psychiatrist and academic Mieko Kamiya in her 1966 book . The book has not yet been translated into English.
Importance
In the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, was thought to be experienced towards either the betterment of society ("subordinating one's own desires to others") or improvement of oneself ("following one's own path").
According to anthropologist Chikako Ozawa-de Silva, for an older generation in Japan, their was to "fit this standard mold of company and family", whereas the younger generation reported their to be about "dreams of what they might become in the future".
Studies have shown that people who do not feel are more likely to experience cardiovascular diseases. However, there was no evidence of any correlation with development of malignant tumors.
See also
Raison d'être
Joie de vivre
Logotherapy
Meaning-making
References
External links
"Factors associated with 'Ikigai' among members of a public temporary employment agency for seniors (Silver Human Resources Centre) in Japan; gender differences", Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. 2006; 4:12 (retrieved Nov 2008).
"Ikigai and Mortality" Psychology Today. 17 Sep 2008 (retrieved Jan 2010).
"Dan Buettner: How to live to be 100+" TED talk about longevity that explains the word in the Okinawan context. Jan 2010.
Japan's formula for life satisfaction. By Lily Crossley-Baxter, 11 May 2020, bbc.com.
Happiness
Japanese culture
Japanese words and phrases
Mental states
Self
Sociological terminology
Words and phrases describing personality