If you’ve spent any time on the internet in the last few years, you’ve probably seen it.
The neat little Venn diagram with four overlapping circles: what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.
At the center lies “Ikigai,” your reason for being.
It’s a beautiful concept.
Inspiring, even.
But as a Japanese person, every time I see that diagram, I have to smile a little.
Because the “Ikigai” that has become a trendy Western buzzword is not quite the “Ikigai” I grew up with.
The reality is quieter, more complex, and in my opinion, much deeper.
The ‘Ikigai’ You Read About Isn’t the One I Grew Up With
More Than a Passion: The Weight of Duty and Contribution
The Western interpretation of Ikigai focuses heavily on individual passion and self-fulfillment.
It’s about finding that one magical job that makes you happy and rich.
But the traditional Japanese understanding is often less about “what I want” and more about “what is my role?”
I think of my own grandfather.
He was a high school teacher for over forty years.
Was it his “passion” in the way a rockstar loves the stage?
I don’t think so.
But he found a profound sense of purpose in his work.
His Ikigai was found in the quiet pride of seeing his students succeed, in contributing to his local community, and in fulfilling his duty to provide for his family.
For many Japanese people, Ikigai is not something you chase; it’s something you find in the place you already are.
It’s about finding meaning and satisfaction in your role, your contribution, your duty.
The Joy of the Process, Not Just the Goal
This is why you see so many elderly craftsmen in Japan working meticulously in their small workshops, long past retirement age.
The world may not “need” another perfect piece of pottery, and they certainly aren’t getting rich from it.
But the act of creation, the daily pursuit of perfection, the process itself—that is their Ikigai.
It’s a quiet joy, a reason to get up in the morning.
It wasn’t about what made them happy in a loud, exciting way; it was about what gave their lives meaning in a deep, resonant way.
It’s less about a destination and more about the journey.
Finding Your Own Reason
So, does this mean you have to find a sense of duty in a boring job to have Ikigai?
Not at all.
The real lesson from the Japanese concept is that your “reason for being” can be found anywhere.
It doesn’t have to be your job.
It can be raising your children, mastering a hobby, or caring for your community.
Sometimes, the best way to find that feeling is not by thinking, but by doing.
Perhaps your Ikigai isn’t something you find in a career, but in an experience that connects you to something deeper—like learning a traditional craft or finding a moment of peace in a new place.
These experiences, these moments of pure focus and connection, can often teach us more about our own purpose than any diagram can.
The trendy diagrams are not wrong; they are just incomplete.
The real, Japanese Ikigai is a quieter, more personal, and ultimately more attainable feeling.
It’s the simple, profound joy of having a reason to welcome the dawn.
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The spirit of finding meaning in your given role is closely tied to another core Japanese concept: “Ganbaru,” or the culture of perseverance.
It’s a beautiful, but sometimes dangerous, philosophy.
【The Dark Side of “Ganbaru”】Japan’s Culture of Perseverance (For Better or Worse)
