Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

“In fact, many Japanese people never really retire—they keep doing what they love for as long as their health allows. There is, in fact, no word in Japanese that means retire in the sense of ‘leaving the workforce for good’ as in English. According to Dan Buettner, a National Geographic reporter who knows the country well, having a purpose in life is so important in Japanese culture that our idea of retirement simply doesn’t exist out there.”

This quote supports a central theme of Ikigai: The Impact of Life Purpose on Well-Being. García and Miralles use the Japanese approach to retirement to illustrate the concept of ikigai in practice. The authors employ a cultural comparison, contrasting the Western notion of retirement with the Japanese perspective, to highlight the significance of ikigai in Japanese society. This juxtaposition underscores the book’s theme of finding alternative approaches to aging and life satisfaction, inviting readers to reconsider their own attitudes toward work, retirement, and purpose. This quote establishes the concept of ikigai as a lifelong pursuit.

“Our neurons start to age while we are still in our twenties. The process is slowed, however, by intellectual activity, curiosity, and a desire to learn. Dealing with new situations, learning something new every day, playing games, and interacting with other people seem to be essential antiaging strategies for the mind. Furthermore, a more positive outlook in this regard will yield greater mental benefits.”

García and Miralles emphasize the importance of lifelong learning and mental engagement as part of their Strategies for Longevity. The authors employ a list of activities to emphasize the variety of ways one can keep the mind active. The phrase “essential antiaging strategies” underscores the book’s focus on actionable steps for longevity. The final sentence introduces the concept of positivity, another key concept in the book, suggesting a holistic approach that links mental attitude to cognitive health.