This is a special deep dive written interview with Professor Tadanori Imai on the IKIGAI-9 scale. The scale is a psychometric tool developed by Tadanori Imai in collaboration with Hisao Osada and Yoshitsugu Nishimura. Its reliability and validity were reported in a paper published in 2012. Professor Imai kindly accepted my invitation to take part in
Developing the Ikigai-9 Scale with Professor Tadanori Imai Read More »
Asobigai: The Value of PlayingWhile challenges can bring us insights and a deep sense of life satisfaction when we overcome them, often the activities that make us feel that life is worth living, right in the moment, are the ones that are spontaneous and carefree – what we might call ‘play’. The verb for ‘play’ in
In Japan, misogi is a Shinto purification ritual grounded in religious belief, rooted in the idea that kegare—ritual impurity accumulated through daily life, illness, misfortune, or contact with death—can be cleansed through contact with pure, life-giving water.
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 »
