Ikigai?

Okinawa, the place I dream about on frigid winter nights, the birthplace of Ikigai (ee-ke-ga-ee). But what is Ikigai?

いきがい　(hiragana) 生き甲斐　(kanji)

Roughly translates to “reason to live”, Iki (いき) meaning “liveliness” and gai (がい) meaning “reason”. It has many other translations and meanings, but all run along the lines of “your reason for being, your bliss, your life’s worth”. It is something that brings you pure joy for the sake of it in and of itself.

First there are some things to clear up with the Western interpretation. If you do a quick Google search of Ikigai, you may come across a few Venn diagrams that have some similarities. There will be four circles with, roughly, the following statements in a circle: What are you good at?, What do you love?, What does the world need? and What can you be paid for?

Who says that your Ikigai needs to meet all these conditions? You don’t have to be paid for your Ikigai. You don’t have to be good at your Ikigai. Your Ikigai doesn’t need to be an end all answer for the world. The only fulfilment that your Ikigai needs to meet is that YOU love it.

To the people of Okinawa and Japan it is a lifestyle. It is ingrained in their culture, whereas for me it is a concept that is completely foreign. Often, I find myself fascinated by the passion that Japanese individuals have in their hobbies. Just how much effort and attention to detail that they put into their own thing is inspiring.

Ikigai won’t solve all the problems that life throws at you, but it does provide a certain stability. A nice break from the stresses of the world.

Peace and Love,

Rosso Montoya