On episode 43 of The Ikigai Podcast, Nick and Naoko Hosokawa explore the concept of kotodama and how the Japanese people apply this concept in modern times.

Japan is known for its rich culture. Amidst technological advancements, the Japanese people managed to maintain their customs and traditions.

One example of this is the idea of kotodama (word spirit); the concept of kotodama encourages people to use the "pure" Japanese language instead of foreign words. How is kotodama used today?

On episode 42 of The Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Chloe Le Gouche and Karly Christ, sharing their experiences living as an expat and finding ikigai. 

Have you lived outside your native country?

Living in an unfamiliar country may be exciting as this will lead you to new experiences and learnings. However, it also has some challenges, such as dealing with a new environment and adapting to a different lifestyle. With this, is it possible to find ikigai living as an expat?

On episode 41 of The Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Ken Mogi about Ken’s recently released book, which focuses on the concept of nagomi, the Japanese way of living harmoniously.

Japan is filled with concepts that people can relate to; they have the themes of ikigai, kintsugi, ichigo ichie, and wabi-sabi, which people can apply to their daily lives, and that can contribute to their well-being. Interestingly, they have this notion that can be considered the core of all these beautiful concepts, the idea of nagomi (harmony). What is nagomi? 

On episode 40 of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Yazdan Mansourian about how one can feel ikigai through information sharing in serious leisure.

One of the essential aspects of ikigai is having meaningful relationships; through these relationships, we can feel a sense of belonging, which leads us to feel ikigai. 
There are ways in which we can obtain significant relationships, and one can be through information sharing in serious leisure activities. How can we build meaningful relationships through leisure?

On episode 39 of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick and Trudy Boyle discuss how people can live meaningfully co-existing with illness.

How do we live our lives co-existing with illness?

Being diagnosed with a critical illness is something that all of us would dread; naturally, we fear the pain, uncertainty, and especially death. However, these are things that we cannot control. It is better to acknowledge these unpleasant feelings and learn to live with them.  How do we do that?

On episode 38 of the Ikigai Podcast, Shinichi Nagata joins Nick to discuss the paper he co-authored on the topic of ikigai. 

Does leisure have an impact on our sources of ikigai? 

There have been studies on the impact of leisure on well-being, but not much about its influence on various sources of ikigai. Good thing some experts would like to explore more on this subject.

In episode 37 of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick and Miku explore the Japanese concept of Omoiyari.

Japan is a group-oriented society and harmony is an important aspect for them; understanding the situation without words is something that is instilled in them at a very young age. They even have this term omoiyari, where people understand the feelings of others while not including the concept of self. But is it something only experienced in Japan?

On episode 36 of the Ikigai Podcast, Makoto Furuya joins Nick, to share how he was able to rediscover and reconnect with his Japanese roots.

A lot of Japanese value the culture that they came from; it is something that they give importance to, but that wasn’t always the case for Makoto. It took him several decades to fully embrace his Japanese roots.

On episode 35 of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick talks to Saori Okada on what it really means to be Japanese.

With the increasing attention on Japanese culture – all these Japanese psychology and concepts being applied in Western countries, what do the Japanese think about it? What does it really mean to be Japanese, despite how the West interprets their culture?

On episode 34 of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick reflects on the life and work of professor, psychiatrist, researcher,  linguist, translator and author, Mieko Kamiya. 
 
Nick shares quotes from Kamiya’s seminal book, Ikigai ni Tsuite, and her published diary as well as quotes from her biography by Yuzo Ota. He also reads passages from my own book, Ikigai-kan. 

Click play and together with Nick, reflect on the life and work of the Mother of Ikigai.