The Japanese concept of Ikigai roughly translates as “reason for being”, like . The “Iki” part means life, while “gai” refers to value or worth. So it effectively means finding a purpose to life and the things we spend our time doing. 

This philosophy dates back to the 12th century, but has been gaining in popularity among Westerners in recent years. That’s in particular thanks to the 2017 release of Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, a book by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles. It includes the top ten key rules of Ikigai, based on a case study of residents from the village of Ogimi in Okinawa.

Where does Ikigai come from? Does this mean Ikigai is the secret to a long and meaningful life? How can I apply Ikigai to my own life? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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A Bababam Originals podcast written and produced by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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