The Japanese Secret to a Happy Life

What’s the secret to being happy every day? Thanks to a book – Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life – our interest in the subject has very much been sparked. In our latest article here on the Made in Japan site, we explore happiness-seeking in Japan, without giving too much away for those who still have the book on their 'to-read' list. Read on…

What is ‘ikigai’?

In short, it’s your reason to jump out of bed each morning, suggests the internationally best-selling book which explores the concept of 'Ikigai' in great detail.

Offering guidance on finding your purpose in life, leading to increased satisfaction and longevity, the book aims to help you make every day ‘more joyful and meaningful’ – and we can certainly all get on board with that.

Certainly, if reviews are anything to go by the book had definitely captivated many a reader. One reviewer said: ‘It is full of real life teaching, very useful and practical’, while another wrote: ‘Such a lovely little book of knowledge, wisdom and guidance.’

Another reviewer had this to say: ‘I found the book informative on Japanese culture and how the people of Okinawa live a fruitful life…. Maybe there is a lesson for the west, but letting go would be the real hard thing for many with powerful marketing, ultra processed “food” and accumulation of “things” being thrown in our faces daily!’

So, how can you live a long and happy life?

Well, the first thing you can do is grab a copy of the book and delve into the very wisdom many an online reviewer speaks of. You can also type ‘Ikigai’ into a search engine and you'll soon find yourself falling down a rabbit hole of further reading.

There are even TED talks on the subject – just head to the TED site for this one, simply called ‘How to Ikigai’.

In a nutshell, here are a couple of the key teachings you’ll find in the book:

Find what you’re passionate about

What fires you up? Is it your work, your hobbies, your social circle?

The book teaches that to discover your ‘Ikigai’, you must first find what you’re passionate about. This could be anything from cooking or gardening to helping others.

Discover how to express your passion

Once you’ve worked out what it is that sees you bound out of bed in the morning, you must then find the medium by which you’ll make that passion a reality. In this piece on the Forbes site, the author uses Steve Jobs as an example of leveraging your passion into something worthwhile.

“It’s easy to think of Jobs as a titan of technology, but that would be inaccurate. Jobs was a lover of fine craftsmanship, first and foremost.

“Whether it was a matter of collecting handmade Japanese tea cups or obsessing over design details of various products, he wrapped himself in his passion for finely made items. Apple and Pixar were merely his chosen mediums of expression.”

What will your chosen mediums of expression be, then – and how will you utilise them to ensure a happier and longer life?

Connect with us online…?

In light of this article (or perhaps if you've read the book already), will you be taking any Ikigai teachings into your own day-to-day life? Let us know - you can find us on Instagram and join the conversation over there.

Until next time…