Explaining Japanese concepts to a Western audience has become a big trend in nonfiction, and ikigai is leading the charge. Naturally, in our almost-typical self-centeredness, we’ve managed to make the worst book about ikigai the most popular one and totally misunderstand the idea.
If you’ve heard of ikigai — and at this point, I’d be surprised if you hadn’t — you’ll probably loosely associate the word with “happiness” or “your life’s purpose.” That’s because our discourse about ikigai has been dominated by a single book, and while it’s a good book in and of itself, unfortunately, it completely misstates what ikigai is actually about.
I love Japan. I went to Tokyo, Kyoto, in Osaka in 2013. In 2022, I also read all major English books about ikigai — thankfully, there are only three of them. So today, I’d love to share what I’ve learned with you. Let’s understand what ikigai is actually about.
The Infamous Venn Diagram: What Ikigai Is NOT
The first book I read about ikigai was the one everyone reads: Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia Puigcerver and Francesc Miralles. This book has sold over 5 million copies to date. It is by far the most popular, and by far the most problematic.
Now, I know how hard it is to write a book, so before I point out all the issues, I must stress this: Ikigai is a wonderful book full of great advice on how to live a long, healthy, happy life. It just misrepresents ikigai.
For example, right on the first page, the authors define ikigai as “the happiness of always being busy.” But ikigai has nothing to do with our Western cult of busy! Is it good to be actively engaged in life? Of course! But that doesn’t mean you should chase to-do list items 24/7. The wording isn’t great.
Next, they claim that “our ikigai is hidden deep inside each of us, and finding it requires a patient search.” That’s also not true. As we will learn later from two Japanese authors and their books, ikigai mainly comes from our actions. They stress that purpose is something you create by dedicating time and attention to otherwise inconsequential things — not by magically uncovering some hidden destiny through lots of reflection.
Finally — and I bet you’ve seen this float around the internet — the authors share a Venn diagram that claims your ikigai lies at the intersection of what you love, are good at, can be paid for, and that the world needs. This is completely wrong. The diagram goes back to a Spanish astrologer. His name is Andrés Zuzunaga. He developed a “theory of purpose” and created this diagram. Then, blogger Marc Winn slapped the word “ikigai” on it, and his post went viral. Eventually, Garcia and Miralles included it in their book, and now millions of people believe ikigai is about getting paid.
But ikigai does not have to do anything with your career, your skills, or changing the world! So please, if you ever come across a Venn diagram that looks like the following, enjoy it for what it is, but remember: The 4-part theory of purpose is NOT ikigai.
The Meaning of the Word “Ikigai” (生き甲斐)
Okay, with some of the junk cleared away, let’s look at ikigai for what it actually is — starting with the word itself. When in doubt, always begin with the basics!
The word “ikigai” is pronounced “e-key-gaa-e.” The closest appropriate English translation is “reason for being.” In Japanese, the word is a compound of “ikiru” (生きる), which means “to live” or “to exist,” and “kai” (甲斐), which means “worth,” “value,” or “reward,” but also “fruitful” and “worth doing.”
The Japanese language is richer and more open to interpretation than most Western languages. Therefore, “ikigai” has many meanings. From the above definitions alone, we could interpret it as “life purpose,” “value of life,” “fruits of life,” “reward for existing,” and more.
In the West, people tend to jump on the “purpose of life” definition because that’s a concept they’re familiar with. You might see it translated as “your reason for waking up in the morning.” Sound familiar? That’s because “Why do you get out of bed in the morning?” is a common question we ask when we talk about meaning in the West.
But when we conflate the two, we might think ikigai is all about finding your life’s mission when, actually, it can be very small. Ikigai is a lot more — and a lot more useful — than just this limited point of view.
So What IS Ikigai?
This brings me to the other two books I’ve read about ikigai. Both of them were written by authors who were born and raised in Japan. The first is The Little Book of Ikigai (sometimes also called Awakening Your Ikigai) by Ken Mogi. The second is Ikigai: Giving Every Day Meaning and Joy by Yukari Mitsuhashi. Both are good, but the latter is the best book on the subject.
Based on everything I’ve learned from them, here’s a definition of ikigai I hope will do the word justice:
Ikigai is anything that makes your life worth living. Whatever makes you feel happy and grateful to be alive — big or small — can be your ikigai.
Mitsuhashi, for example, explains that the “life” in “iki” aligns more with “daily life” than “lifetime:” “In other words, ikigai can be about the joy a person finds in living day-to-day.” It can be the smell of your morning coffee, your coworker greeting you when you get to work, or your spouse making dinner for you after a long day.
Therefore, if you love your job, that’s great, and it can be a source of ikigai — but even if you don’t, you can still feel ikigai on a daily basis. A janitor might not get up in the morning because they love taking care of their school building — but if a student compliments them on their work, they enjoy their walk during lunch break, or feel at ease while gardening at night, that janitor still has ikigai.
Mitsuhashi points out a study among 2,000 Japanese people. 75% of them indicated they had ikigai, but only 31% said they gain this feeling from work. In fact, most people find ikigai in their hobbies, close relationships, voluntary activities, and social interactions — and everyone gets their ikigai from multiple sources, not just one.
Whether it’s the big things or the small things that give your life meaning and joy doesn’t matter. All that counts is that you develop an awareness of these things and make a habit of savoring them.
Where Can You Start Looking for Ikigai?
The main benefit of practicing ikigai in your life is not that you’ll suddenly have an overarching, all-empowering vision to drive you 24/7. It’s that you’ll be calmer, happier, and more content even when everyday life is boring.
Even the most inspired people don’t love their work every day — but everyone can find comfort in contributing to other people’s lives. Along the same vein, Ken Mogi describes 5 pillars of ikigai in his book, each of which can be an equally viable source of meaning and/or happiness for us:
- Start small. Use routines to ground yourself. Focus on details and tiny positive actions. Examples: Getting up early, carefully preparing a meal, going the extra mile to make someone’s day.
- Release yourself. Accept who you are. Let go of your ego. Don’t take yourself so seriously. Examples: Enjoying a hobby, like painting, without worrying about outcomes; leaving work early to take care of a loved one who is struggling.
- Practice harmony and sustainability. Try syncing with nature. Spend time outside. Work with a community. Examples: Daily group stretching exercises; walking to work instead of driving.
- Focus on the joy of small things. Make an effort to recognize the details. Examples: Savoring the taste of a dish, closing your eyes while standing in the sun, fully appreciating the free fortune cookie after lunch.
- Be in the here and now. Immerse yourself in reality. Don’t rush through life. Examples: Activities that put you in flow, holding back on judging others, meditation.
Ultimately, ikigai is about being present, making an honest effort, and living life one day at a time. Do the best you can with what you’ve got, and don’t run so fast you burn out. As long as you do that, you’ve fully earned the right to go to bed each night with a sense of fulfillment.
All You Need To Know
Ikigai is a broad, philosophical concept in Japanese culture. Contrary to popular belief, ikigai does not depend on your career, your skills, or how you make your money. It’s not about changing the world, being busy, or uncovering some hidden passion deep inside yourself.
The word “ikigai” consists of syllables that mean “life” and “value.” Therefore, ikigai is whatever makes you feel your life is worth living. It can be an event, a habit, a person, or an item. From the sunrise to your breakfast to your spouse or your gaming console, almost anything can be a source of ikigai.
Since ikigai is such a democratic, accessible concept, anyone can find ikigai in their life by starting small and focusing on tiny joys, by letting go of their ego, being present, and prioritizing harmony over success.
If you want to learn more about ikigai, the #1 book I would recommend is Ikigai: Giving Every Day Meaning and Joy by Yukari Mitsuhashi. It’s short, clear, and inspiring. And for a close second, I also enjoyed The Little Book of Ikigai by Ken Mogi.
May your life be filled with ikigai, and remember:
“Even if we are tempted to focus on the events that seem most significant in our lives overall, each major event wouldn’t happen without the smaller moments leading up to it.”
― Yukari Mitsuhashi