On episode 24 of the Ikigai Podcast, I interview Scott Haas, a writer and clinical psychologist and author of four books, including WHY BE HAPPY - The Japanese Way of Acceptance.

The winner of a James Beard award for his on-air broadcasts on public radio, Scott holds a Ph.D. from the University of Detroit. He did his doctoral internship at Massachusetts Mental Health Center, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital. 

Scott works in Japan three to four times each year when there is no pandemic. He is currently based in Cambridge, MA.

On episode 23 of the Ikigai Podcast I speak with Dr. Soenke Ziesche on the fascinating subject of the impact of AI and human enhancement of on ikigai.  Dr. Soenke holds has a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Hamburg. 

Soenke has worked for over 20 years for the United Nations in the humanitarian and recovery sector. And, until 2019 he worked as a senior researcher on artificial intelligence at the Maldives  National University. Currently, Soenke is  an independent consultant, mostly for the United Nations, based in New Delhi, India.

In episode 22 of the ikigai podcast, I am speaking with Dr. Chikako Ozawa-de Silva on the subject of A Lack of Ikigai: Loneliness and Relational Meaning.

Chikako is an Associate Professor of Anthropology in the Department of Anthropology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Chikako’s research focuses on cross-cultural understandings of well-being, especially mental well-being, and contemplative practice. Her work brings together Western and Asian (particularly Japanese and Tibetan) perspectives on the mind-body, religion, medicine, therapy. 

In episode 21, I welcome back expert in leisure behavior science, Assistant Professor of Alberta University, Shintaro Kono.

This is part 3 of a 3 part podcast series. On episode 4, we discussed your research on valued experiences and how ikigai relates to leisure. On episode 17, we talked about experiencing ikigai in the context of interpersonal relationships.

On this episode, episode 21, we will discuss houkousei - life directionality, where we can experience ikigai from associations with the past, present, and future

On episode 20 of the Ikgai Podcast, Dr. Iza Kavedžija shares her insights on happiness and Ikigai from the perspective of the elderly in Japan.

Having spent 14 months observing and conversing with her interlocutors, a group of elderly friends who regularly spend time at a community cate Iza come to discover that "Happiness in the Japanese context can usefully be understood as deriving from a series of negotiations or “balancing acts” between contrastive values and orientations to the world."

Interestingly, her interlocutors rarely spoke directly of “happiness”. In Japan, stating such things about oneself could be perceived as bragging, and it is customary in Japan to represent oneself and one’s associates in a modest, self-deprecatory manner.

On episode 19 of the Ikigai Podcast, I discuss kokorozashi with the  Dean of the Graduate School of Management at GLOBIS University, Tomoya Nakamura. GLOBIS is the largest and fastest-growing business school in Japan and aspires to develop visionary leaders who will create and innovate societies.

Kokorozashi could be defined as something that not only will satisfy and fulfill a person but also as something that has a positive impact on society. Kokorozashi, a word rooted in bushido is very relevant to leadership and business in Japan. 

 This is episode 18 of the ikigai podcast and my guest today is someone who I like to think of as my Senpai or the Senpai I wish I had while living in Japan, William Reed. William is a Japan certified coach, a best-selling author, a long time resident of Japan, almost 50 years, and has an eighth-degree black belt in Aikido, an 8th dan in Shodo, which is brush calligraphy, and a seventh dan in small brush calligraphy. 

The list of Will's achievements in Japan goes on and on - too many to mention in this introduction, but I should mention that Will holds a Master Teacher rank in Namba Walking, which he defines as the art of physical finesse.

In episode 17 of the Ikigai podcast, Assistant Professor Shintaro Kono shares his research results from a qualitative study on how Japanese university students experience ikigai via interpersonal relationships. 

Theorizing the Interpersonal Aspect of Ikigai
Ikigai is strongly influenced by "ibasho"; authentic relationship. In such relationships, students felt that they could be true to who they were and that their close others genuinely cared about them. 

In summary, Shin's research and resulting theory suggest that having authentic relationship is characterized by two distinct types of subjective perceptions; self-authenticity and genuine care. Authentic relationship was often developed and maintained through two modes of interaction; "experiencing together", and "communicating experiences". Lastly, these interactions were conditioned by echoed values and trust.

On episode 16 we discuss why finding your Ikigai is the most honorable and rewarding thing one can do. According venture capitalist Yohei Nkajima it’s the key to a long and happy life. 

So what exactly is Ikigai?

The literal translation is “the reason for which one lives”, which does the word justice. Your Ikigai can be your job, your lover, your family, your hobby, or anything else. It’s whatever brings you satisfaction and a sense of meaning to life. If you’ve ever woken up next to someone you truly love, you know the feeling.

In this episode of the Ikigai Podcast, Yohei Nakajima shares with us that in order to truly understand the nuances of this word, you must know the different ways in which it’s used. Ikigai is something you can have, feel, search for, or find.

In episode 15 of the Ikigai Podcast Nick chats with Misako Yoke, founder of Genki Habits and author of Take Heart - Your Are Stronger Than You Think. 

Misako Yoke is also a published author in Japan, an award-winning speaker, a certified Tiny Habits coach, and a Life Story coach. The word “Genki” (energetic, enthusiastic, high-spirited) perfectly describes her personality.