Tokyo Weekender - September 2017

BUY THE BOOKS
IKIGAI: The Japanese Secret to a Long and
Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc
Miralles is published by Hutchinson, and is
available on Amazon Japan from
September 7 for ¥1,993.
THE LITTLE BOOK OF IKIGAI: The Japanese
Guide to Finding Your Purpose in Life by Ken
Mogi is published by Quercus, and is available
on Amazon Japan for ¥1,463.
standing the significance and practicalities of
ikigai for the Japanese people themselves.
Ken Mogi’s The Little Book of Ikigai is an
excellent place to start. Mogi is a neuroscientist
and bestselling Japanese writer, having
published over 30 papers and around 100
books in Japan, and earning himself a devout
social media following for his down to earth
and accessible mix of science, sociology and
philosophy. Following the devastating 2011
earthquake, Mogi was the first Japanese
speaker invited to give an overseas TED talk,
in which he spoke about Japanese psychology,
community spirit and the nation’s ability
to maintain a positive outlook. He has an
insider perspective coupled with a rational
scientific background, so when it comes to
tips for living well, his are certainly trustworthy
hands to be in.
The Little Book of Ikigai explores traditional
values through personal accounts,
historical facts and storytelling whilst helping
the reader discover how ikigai can contribute
to happiness, success and financial gain,
tackling the cognitive factors involved at the
same time. Mogi puts great emphasis on the
presence of ikigai in pastimes and hobbies,
and his inclusive approach reinforces that
your life’s purpose doesn’t have to be as ambitious
as striving for a Nobel Prize. It could
be found in your career (whether you’re a
cleaner or a CEO doesn’t matter), or in raising
a family, but it can also be seen in the passion
of trainspotters, the affinity of an amateur
sports team or the fulfilment of practicing
arts and crafts. Finding and acknowledging
the pleasure and the satisfaction in small
details is important to our daily joy. Taking
the time to complete tasks properly, having
gratitude for people who help us, recognizing
modest achievements, supporting others – all
of these things contribute to the motivation
and harmony that’s felt in Japan.
Offering a slightly different perspective,
the authors of Ikigai – The Japanese
Secret for a Long and Happy Life spent
several months in Okinawa, interviewing
locals and compiling their research. Hector
Garcia, a long-term resident of Japan, and
award-winning author Francesc Miralles
unlock the secrets of the islanders’ incredible
health – they boast some of the longest
lifespans on the planet – and happiness. The
writers narrow down their findings to 10
conclusive “rules of ikigai,” covering general
good advice from staying active in old age to
smiling more and living in the moment, with
a few more specific suggestions like living
harmoniously with nature or hara hachi
bu – only eating until you are 80% full. Their
recipe for happiness must be good cooking:
the Spanish and Dutch editions have already
made it to their respective bestseller lists.
It seems the outside world’s fascination
with Japan’s ancient and traditional ways continues
to captivate, perhaps aided by a global
obsession with a search for personal longevity.
And now that the publishing world is shining
a light on this unique aspect of Japanese
culture, this single word may well become the
umbrella term for all Japanese-inspired advice
relating to living a long and fulfilling life.
For most people born in Japan, however,
the notion of instructional books or
diagrams is quite an unnecessary approach
to ikigai. Ayano, a web designer in Tokyo
explains: “I think we don’t talk about ‘what
is our ikigai’ that much. I keep that inside of
myself ... of course not all Japanese people
live their life this way, but if we find some
ikigai, then we can overcome some of the
difficulties and challenges in our life.” She
continues: “We are raised to think that we
can do even difficult tasks because of ikigai,
and ikigai in turn makes us happy when we
do things.”
Naoki, an IT technician, suggests it’s not
so much something Japanese people look for
as something that’s already there, but adds,
“To be honest, it’s more common to hear the
word used like the punchline in a joke. For
example: a tired businessman finally gets
to the bar late at night, drinks his first sip of
beer and says ‘this is my ikigai!’ ... Actually
maybe that’s not really a joke...”
Regardless of how seriously you want to
take it, there is undoubtedly some benefit to
stopping and taking a look at our lives. You
don’t need to make drastic changes; just take
a minute to consider and be mindful of what
you already have. There is certainly a lot of
inspiration that might encourage us to deal
with some of our own issues of selfishness,
fickleness and daily dissatisfaction. For
those on board with ikigai, the secret to happiness
lies not in dramatic adjustments or
momentous achievements, but in acknowledging
the small pleasures of daily life, and
better appreciating our surroundings. For
the Japanese it seems the mere existence of
the word brings a measure of happiness – so
perhaps that’s a good place to start.
TOKYO WEEKENDER | SEPTEMBER 2017 | 29