Benjamin Boas is an American author, translator, and contemporary Japanese culture consultant. He is both the Cool Japan Ambassador for the Japanese government and a Tourism Ambassador for the Nakano ward in Tokyo. He is the author of From Cool Japan to Your Japan and two other Japanese-language books about intercultural education and has written for Studio Ghibli, The Japan Times, and many other publications.

On episode 52 of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Benjamin Boas about the global visibility of Japan’s unique culture.

Giving a voice to ikigai researchers, authors and Japanese, Motoki Tonn and Nick Kemp discuss the virtual ikigai summit they will be hosting in February 2023.

Ikigai has become one of Japan's most misunderstood words and culturally appropriated concepts. It’s not a word from Okinawa. It’s not the Japanese secret to longevity. It's not a Venn diagram showing you how to find your bliss or become a successful entrepreneur. And it’s not the pursuit of a single life purpose. 

The Ikigai Summit will bring together the knowledge of researchers, authors and speakers to offer various perspectives of ikigai while remaining respectful to Japanese culture and ikigai's origins. 

On episode 51 of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Jennifer Shinkai about being one and included in Japanese society.

Jennifer Shinkai is a facilitator and executive coach living in Japan. Originally from the UK, Jennifer holds an MA (Oxon) in English Language and Literature from St. Hugh's College, Oxford University. She is an ICF Associate certified coach, Points of You® Expert, and Organization and Relationship Systems Coaching ORSC® Practitioner, and coaches individuals and corporate groups around their ikigai. 

She also has her own podcast and YouTube channel, “Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai.”

On episode 50 of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Rie Takeda on her recently published book about shodo and how people can practise the art of shodo with the use of 10 fascinating Japanese words.

Rie Takeda is a freelance artist and a professional calligrapher; she has been practising shodo since the age of five, under the creative supervision of her grandmother, a distinguished Gayu calligraphy artist. 

Rie teaches shodo in various countries, including the UK, Switzerland, and Germany. She produces Neo-Japonism paintings, calligraphy works, washi paper and vintage Kimono collages, illustrations, and works in body art. Rie was also a guest on episode 32 of the Ikigai Podcast, where she talked about Mindfulness Calligraphy.

On episode 49 of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Carly Taylor about the positive results of applying Japanese psychology in our lives.

Carly Taylor is trained and experienced in Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Japanese psychology (Morita Therapy and Naikan); she is a University qualified nutritionist, personal trainer, and a health coach with over 10 years experience in the area of behaviour change. 

Her coaching covers all domains of life: mindset, nutrition, movement, and sleep; it is centred around living a life based on values and purpose as opposed to a life dictated by thoughts and emotions.

On episode 48 of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Dr. Clark Chilson about naikan and how it can help people develop their ikigai.

Do you contemplate the good things that happen in your life? 

Sometimes, we tend to focus on the negative aspects of our lives, and we forget to acknowledge the good things that occur around us.

In Japan, they have a self-reflective form of meditation called naikan; this method helps people realise what they have caused others (both good and bad). Can this practice of naikan help us feel more ikigai in our lives?

Is rolefulness essential to ikigai?

Although we might not be aware of it, our roles may impact our well-being. We may have many roles in our lives, each with its own significance and impact – on people around us and on us as individuals. These roles give us a sense of fulfilment that leads to a feeling of ikigai.

On episode 47 of The Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Professor Daiki Kato to explore the importance of roles in perceiving ikigai in our lives.

On episode 46 of The Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Steve Beauchamp about how people can integrate Bushido into their lives. 

When we hear the term Bushido, we imagine the Japanese samurai and think of it as something related to martial arts. But the principle of Bushido can actually be applied to some aspects of our lives and help us gain continuous improvement.

On episode 45 of The Ikigai Podcast, guest host Dr. Caitlin Kight speaks with Nick Kemp about his recently published book Ikigai-kan.

After years of living in Japan and having a meaningful connection with its people, Nick developed a fondness for Japan and its culture. Seeing Japanese concepts, particularly ikigai, being misinterpreted in the West as a Venn diagram makes him uncomfortable as he knows that the idea of ikigai is more than that. 

With that, he wants to give justice to this concept -- make people understand and appreciate its authentic beauty that is true to the Japanese culture. 

On episode 44 of The Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Ted Bonnah about the social need for ikigai in today’s society.

Japan is filled with crafts that play an important part in their culture. Hence, they have traditions that are passed down from generation to generation to keep them alive. 
However, with the responsibilities being instilled with the present generation, is it possible for them to find ikigai with the work that they do?