Have you prepared for the end of your life?Let’s explore what a ‘good death’ means to Japan’s elderly and how embracing end-of-life preparation can enrich your purpose and joy in daily living. Definition of ShukatsuShūkatsu (終活) a Japanese term combining shū (end) and katsu (activity), refers to end-of-life planning aimed at preparing for the practical, […]
Catherine GnocchiTherapist & Certified Ikigai Tribe CoachCatherine Gnocchi is a highly experienced, dedicated, loyal and compassionate educator, therapist, mentor and leader with a proven track record of successfully anticipating and adapting to different situations in order to create and secure positive outcomes. She received a distinction for her dissertation on the evolutionary origins of anxiety
In May 2025, Sony Life Insurance Co., Ltd. released the results of a nationwide survey on ikigai . The study asked 1,400 people from teens to those in their 70s about their sources of ikigai. The answers may surprise you.
The Top Ten Sources of Ikigai For Japanese Read More »
Cory SterlingIt’s with deep gratitude that I share this post from Cory Sterling—a globe-trotting, digital nomad lawyer who lives with a strong sense of ikigai. Cory brings a refreshing, fun approach to law for holistic health and wellness professionals.Cory completed my Ikigai Tribe Coach Certification in Japan in April 2025. He originally shared the post
Japan! Of all the countries and cultures in the world… Read More »
Ikigai Coaching – a methodology to help others flourish and feel alive. ‘As “ikigai” can be a guideline for the individual’s way of life, it is a topic for interdisciplinary research in psychology, pedagogy (education), and philosophy.’ The above quote from one of Japan’s leading ikigai researchers, Professor Akihiro Hasegawa of Toyo Eiwa University, indicates the breadth
Coaching the Ikigai Concept Read More »
Bakufu Slump, a Japanese rock band, made their major debut, so lat year marked their 40th anniversary. To celebrate it they release a new song, “IKIGAI,” on August 25th —the anniversary of their major debut—marking their first new song in 26 years.
What’s Your Ikigai? Read More »
As ikigai is subjective and personal, the ikigai sources we can identify in life will be unique to each of us, but what we can be certain about is that ikigai is relatable to intrinsic motivation – doing things or engaging in experiences that are inherently rewarding.
Beware of the ikigai trap! Read More »
Mastery is simple. It is just the process of doing things properly over and over again. Yet most of us struggle to do anything properly. Instead, we do things half-heartedly.Chuto-hanpaWhen things are done improperly or are left incomplete, it can leave you with a sense of unease or guilt, reduce harmony, inconvenience others, and stop
My father-in-law is a shokunin, a craftsman. He makes a style of traditional Japanese pottery called Shino-yaki. In Japan, the shokunin’s attitude and commitment to craft are embodied in the term shokunin-damashi; damashi means ‘spirit’ or ‘soul’, so this indicates ‘the craftsman’s spirit’ – a willingness to go above and beyond one’s commitment to their
How well you can focus and concentrate on a single task throughout your life will greatly influence the success you experience. You can repeatedly choose avoidance and distraction and, as a result, never become proficient at anything, or you can train yourself to focus, enter states of flow, and live a life with the power
What is ichigyo-zanmai? Read More »
