The Little Book of Ikigai

The Little Book of Ikigai explains the popular Japanese concept of ikigai, a way of finding joy and meaning in life, based on 5 simple pillars and the experience of a Japanese neuroscientist for an authentic, original take on this idea.

The word “ikigai” (生き甲斐) is a compound of “iki” and “gai,” words meaning “to live” and “reward” or “worth doing.” In English, you’ll often see the liberal translation that ikigai is your “reason for waking up in the morning.” Sound familiar? “Why do you get out of bed in the morning?” is a popular question. But when we conflate the two, we think ikigai is all about finding your life’s mission when, actually, it can be very small.

“In the Japanese language, ikigai is used in various contexts, and can apply to small everyday things as well as to big goals and achievements,” Mogi writes. So really, ikigai is anything that makes your life worth living—whatever makes you feel happy and grateful to be alive!

That’s why Mogi debunks the common myth that ikigai is about finding work you love: “Ikigai is possible without your necessarily being successful in your professional life. It is a very democratic concept. Having ikigai can result in success, but success is not a requisite condition for having ikigai. It is open to every one of us.”

If you love your work, that’s great, but even if you don’t you can still feel ikigai on a daily basis. From the sunrise to your morning cup of coffee to a walk in the park or a gaming session at night, ikigai can come from anywhere. It can be an event, a habit, a person, or an item.

So first of all, remember that ikigai is about meaning and happiness—and those two things come from sources big and small.

From 99-year-old sushi master Jiro Ono to seeing office workers play shogi on his high school–commute as a teenager, Mogi provides many examples of ikigai in the book. All of them meet at least one of “the 5 Pillars of Ikigai:” Start small. Be satisfied with tiny but daily positive actions. This could mean getting up early to enjoy a quiet morning or cooking at least one meal every day. Release yourself. Put your ego aside and don’t take life so seriously. Surrender to whatever’s happening, and enjoy things as they are, for example by painting without thinking about the rewards or helping someone in need when it’s urgent. Practice harmony and sustainability. Radio taiso helps millions of people in Japan do calisthenics outside every day. Spend time in nature and communities. Find the joy in small things. Truly savor every flavor in your lunch. Close your…