Overview

According to the Japanese, everyone has an ikigai—a reason for living. In the village renowned for its long-living residents, finding one’s ikigai is seen as the key to a happier and longer life. When what you love, what you’re good at, what you can get paid for, and what the world needs align, every day is filled with meaning.

Discovering Ikigai

Ikigai (pronounced ee-key-guy) is the secret that motivates the Japanese to wake up each day with purpose. Unlike the typical concept of retirement, many Japanese continue to work in fields they love, driven by a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Insights from the Blue Zone

In researching this book, the authors interviewed residents from a Japanese village with one of the highest percentages of 100-year-olds—a true Blue Zone. Their lifestyle reveals how diet, movement, meaningful work, collaboration, and community intertwine to create a recipe for longevity and joy.

Endorsements

"One of the unintended—yet positive—consequences of the [pandemic] is that it is forcing people to reevaluate their jobs, careers, and lives. Use this time wisely, find your personal ikigai, and live your best life." – Forbes

"Workers looking for more fulfilling positions should start by identifying their ikigai." – Business Insider

"Only staying active will make you want to live a hundred years." – Japanese Proverb

Final Reflections

This transformative guide provides practical tools to help you discover your own ikigai, bringing more meaning, joy, and a healthy lifestyle to every day. Embrace the secret to a long and happy life and let your ikigai light the way to your fullest potential.