Ikigai is the reason why people live longer, healthier lives in Japan. It’s not a diet, exercise, or even their culture. It’s something much more fundamental—like a way of being that shapes everything from your attitude to your diet to your relationships.

What is ikigai?

It’s an idea that has been around for centuries: ikigai means “a reason for being,” and it describes how you feel when you’re doing what you’re meant to do. It’s not just about making money—it’s about finding meaning in life through your work and relationships. Ikigai means finding joy every moment of every day, making it easier to deal with stressors like illness or aging.

But how do you find ikigai? It starts with understanding yourself first. What makes you happy? What are your passions? What makes you feel alive? Once you’ve figured that out, it’s time to find ways to bring those things into your daily routine—even if they don’t seem directly related at first!

Review by Readers

If ever there was a book to help you step back, slow down and contemplate on the meaning of life, this would be it. The pace is unhurried and that is exactly how you should read the book. Not in a single sitting but over a week or ten days. Savour each chapter, make notes, write things down when they touch a chord. Ikigai helps you understand so many beautiful things in the sheer simplicity in which it’s conveyed. In an increasingly cynical world, we all need ikigai. 

Shailaja