Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

Genre:- Non-fiction: Self-Help book

Overall rating: 3.5*           

                                 

The book ‘IKIGAI’ by Hector Carcia and Fransesc Miralles is an extremely soothing and inspirational book which leaves the readers with a feel-good factor and a deep sense of motivation. This book encompasses various techniques by which our mind and body can be aligned so as to lead a fulfilling and happy life. 

‘Ikigai’ is a Japanese word that means, “the happiness of always being busy”. 

As per the Japanese beliefs, “Only staying active will make you want to live a hundred years.”

Ikigai can also be referred to as a ‘purpose’.  Every individual has their own Ikigai which encourages one to get up from bed each morning and pursue their dreams. Some people are clear about their purpose in life but, for those who are still searching, this book gives you tools and methods to identify your Ikigai.

Japan is the country having the most centenarians and with the highest life expectancy in the world, it is only precise that the authors visited Japan to interview hundreds of locals and unraveled this amazing masterpiece. The authors visited the village Ogimi which has earned the name, ‘Village of Longevity’. The elderly even of the age above 80 and 90 are still active and working as opposed to sleeping or resting the entire day. They believe in keeping their bodies mobile right from dawn to dusk. 

As Easy as Getting out of Your Chair- Metabolism slows down 90 percent after 30 minutes of sitting.

Every chapter of the book is specific to a particular habit that the Japanese follow along with a defined logic and theory behind the same. Ikigai gives us 10 golden rules as a summary on the last page of the book:

1. Stay active; don’t retire
2. Take it slow
3. Don’t fill your stomach - The 80 percent rule – stop eating when you are 80% full
4. Surround yourself with good friends
5. Get in shape for your next birthday
6. Smile
7. Reconnect with nature
8. Gratitude
9. Live in the moment
10. Follow your Ikigai

The book is written in very lucid and simple language. Authors have provided translations to Japanese words and hence it is not difficult to grasp and does not break the chain of thought while reading. Time and again the Japanese words with translations give us the first-hand feel of the Japanese traditions and the message they are trying to convey to the world. 

After reading, I felt that some of the traditional Japanese concepts are interesting and a good learning experience. However, I was already aware of the few others; hearing them from my grandparents and parents since childhood. However, the way this book walks us through every principle is a breath of fresh air. It also sends across a strong message that along with physical health, emotional well-being is equally important. 

This book reignites that fire of self-care and motivates us to get back to the basics to find our life’s purpose and keep doing so till we find our Ikigai. 

Health and fitness are the most talked about topics all around us. Suddenly, there is a wave of lifestyle modification that has led to the eruption of several new diets and workout regimes with attractive promises. 

With the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus, it has become glaringly important that everything else can wait, but health cannot. Ikigai is a light read with an educational value to it.

Life is not a problem to be solved. Just remember to have something that keeps you busy doing what you love while being surrounded by the people who love you.