According to the Japanese, everyone has an ikigai, what a French philosopher would translate as raison d’être («reason for being»). Some have found it and are aware of their ikigai, others carry it within them but are still searching for it.

Having a clear and defined ikigai, a great passion, gives satisfaction, happiness and meaning to life

Ikigai is hidden within us and requires patient exploration to reach the deepest part of our being and find it. According to the people of Okinawa, the island with the highest rate of centenarians in the world, ikigai is the reason we get up in the morning.

A passion for life

One of the things that surprises you when you’ve been living in Japan for a while is seeing how active people remain even after they retire. In fact, a large number of Japanese never «retire», they continue working on what they like, as long as their health allows it.

Curiously, there is no word in Japanese that means retire. with the exact meaning of «retire forever», as we have in the West. As stated by Jan Buettner, a National Geographic journalist who knows the Japanese country well, «having a vital purpose is so important in this culture that that is why they do not have our concept of retirement.»

Some studies on longevity They suggest that community life and having a clear ikigai are as important or more important than a healthy Japanese diet.

The concept we are going to explore is especially rooted in Okinawa, one of the so-called «blue zones», the places in the world where people live the longest. On this island there are more people over 100 years of age per 100,000 inhabitants than in any other region on the planet.

The medical research that is being carried out has yielded many interesting data.

There are many centenarians with a level of vitality and a state of health that would be unthinkable in elderly people from other latitudes.

In addition to living many more years than the rest of the world’s population:

• They suffer less illnesses chronic diseases (cancer or heart disease) and fewer inflammatory conditions.
• They have fewer free radicals in blood (responsible for cellular aging) due to the tea culture and the habit of ingesting only until your stomach is 80% satisfied.
• Dementia cases They also have a noticeably lower rate than the average for the world population and it has been seen that menopause in women is much milder.
• In general, men and women maintain a high level of sex hormones until very advanced ages.

Researchers highlight that an important part of the health and longevity of Okinawans is due to their ikigai attitude to life, which gives deep meaning to each day.

The centenary village

To the north of the island of Okinawa, there is a town known as «the village of centenarians.» Ogimi holds the honor of being the town with the highest longevity index in the world, and there we did our field work that culminated with the Ikigai trial. Some observations about his lifestyle:

• 100% of those interviewed has a garden.
• They all belong to some neighborhood association in which they feel loved as if they belonged to a family.
• They celebrate a lot, even the little things. Music, singing and dancing are an essential part of their daily lives.

• They have an important mission in life, or even several. They have an ikigai, but they don’t take it very seriously either. There is relaxation and enjoyment in what they do.
• They are very proud of their traditions and local culture.
• They show passion for everything they do no matter how unimportant it may seem.
• The yui-maru, which could be translated as «spirit of mutual cooperation» is firmly seated within his heart. They not only help each other in agricultural work, but also when it comes to building a house or volunteering in public works.
• They are always busy but with various tasks that allow them to relax. We didn’t see any grandparents sitting on a bench doing nothing. They were always moving from here to there, going to karaoke, the next game of getball or the neighborhood meeting.

The moai: mutual help

In fact, throughout Okinawa there is an important tradition of forming strong ties in local communities.

The moai is an informal group of people with common interests who help each other. For many, community service becomes one of their ikigais.

The origin of the moais It comes from the difficult times, when farmers came together to exchange information about the best ways to grow crops, as well as to help each other in case the harvest did not go well that year.

Members have to pay a set monthly amount. This payment allows them to attend meetings, dinners, games of shogi (Japanese chess) or whatever common hobby they have.

The feeling of belonging and mutual help provides security and contributes to increasing life expectancy

Everyone’s money is used in activities and, if too much accumulates, a member (they rotate) receives a set amount of money. For example, if you pay 5000 yen a month, after two years you receive 50,000 yen (it is a way of saving with the help of others), and after two years and one month it will be another friend of the same moai who receives 50,000 yen.

Being in a moai helps maintain emotional and financial stability. For example, if someone in the group is in trouble, the group’s savings «payment» can be advanced.

Ikigai, passion and work united

In Okinawa, work and passion often meet. Ikigai and work life are often the same. On the other hand, in the West it is a sadly common story that, after a life of hard work, retired people cannot find motivating habits to replace the time they dedicated to their job, even if they did not like it.

Suddenly, free time is filled with a feeling of uselessness which is a fertile field for depression, in addition to a sedentary lifestyle and other bad habits that accelerate aging and undermine health at an alarming rate.

This does not happen to those who love their job because they simply never stop doing it. A passionate teacher may retire, but will continue to be a teacher. He will continue training, reading, and will even use the freed up time to teach as a volunteer to groups to which he previously did not have access. In short: you will be as happy or happier than when you «signed» at your school.

As the graph we see above shows, it is worth fighting to make our passion, ikigai itself, our work activity. As Confucius said:

«Choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.»

10 keys to living your ikigai successfully

To live longer, it is surely necessary to live better, to be happier. Here you have guidelines, steps, tips inspired by Japanese centenarians.

1. Always stay active, never retire

He who abandons the things he loves and knows how to do loses the meaning of his life. Therefore, even after having finished the «official» working life, it is important to continue doing things of value, moving forward, bringing beauty or usefulness to others, helping and shaping our small world.

2. Take it easy

Rushing is inversely proportional to the quality of life. As an old proverb says: «Walking slowly goes far.» When we leave emergencies behind, time and life take on a new meaning.

3. Don’t eat until you’re full

Also in nutrition for a long life, «less is more.» According to the law of 80%, to preserve health for a long time, instead of stuffing ourselves, we must eat a little less than we are hungry.

4. Surround yourself with good friends

They are the best elixir to dissolve worries: with a good talk, telling and listening to anecdotes that lighten existence, asking for advice, having fun together, sharing, dreaming… In short, living.

5. Get in shape for your birthday

Water that moves, flows fresh and does not stagnate. Likewise, your vehicle for life needs some daily maintenance so that it can last for many years. In addition, exercise secretes happiness hormones.

6. Smile

A friendly attitude makes friends and relaxes oneself. It’s okay to notice things that are wrong, but don’t forget the privilege of being here and now in this world full of possibilities.

7. Reconnect with nature

We need to regularly return to it to recharge our batteries. of the soul. Although most human beings live in cities, we are made to blend with nature.

8. Say thank you

To your ancestors, to nature that provides you with air and food, your life companions, everything that illuminates your daily life and makes you feel happy to be alive. Dedicate a moment of the day to giving thanks and you will increase your flow of happiness.

9. Follow your ikigai

Inside you there is a passion, a unique talent that gives meaning to your days and pushes you to give your best until the end.
If you haven’t found it yet, as Viktor Frankl said, your next mission will be to find it.

10. Live in the moment

Stop regretting the past and fearing the future. All you have is today. Give it the best possible use so that it deserves to be remembered.

• Ikigai. Japan’s secrets to a long and happy life. Héctor García (Kirai) and Francesc Miralles. Uranus, 2016