The Oxford English Dictionary defines ikigai as "a motivating force; something or someone that gives a person a sense of purpose or a reason … See more

Ikigai can describe having a sense of purpose in life, as well as being motivated. According to a study by Michiko Kumano, feeling ikigai as described in Japanese usually means the feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment that follows when people … See more

In the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, ikigai was thought to have two primary forms of manifestation: either in terms of the betterment of society ("subordinating one's own desires to … See more

• Raison d'être
• Joie de vivre
• Logotherapy
• Meaning-making
• Eudaimonia
• Motivation § Types of motivation See more

Although the concept of ikigai has long existed in Japanese culture, it was first popularised by Japanese psychiatrist and academic Mieko Kamiya in her 1966 book "On the Meaning of Life" (生きがいについて, ikigai ni tsuite). The book has not yet been translated into … See more

An Ikigai scale has been constructed to measure the effects on mental and physical health of those people who practice it. See more

• "Factors associated with 'Ikigai' among members of a public temporary employment agency for seniors (Silver Human Resources Centre) in Japan; gender differences", Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. 2006; 4:12 (retrieved Nov 2008). See more