You've Been Lied To About Ikigai... true meaning and how to find it 

let me know your ikigai here ✍🏼✨my current ikigai is to eat meiji chocolate 🍫 lol my favorites are dark, matcha, and strawberry 🍓 highly recommend you try them if you visit japan!

Your video inadvertently revealed why studio Ghibli is successful. The anime movies easily display the simplicity aspect of ikigai.

As a neurodivergent person struggling with daily tasks and procrastination, I’ve been feeling bad about my “ikigai” for an entire existence 😂 And finally today I’ve found your video! 🙏🏻 My ikigai (the actual one, not the diagram one) is eating good and learning Japanese My kids would probably tell you “playing Fortnite” or “listening to music” or “drinking coconut milk” 😊

I finally found out the name for it! I have definitely found my ikigai and always tell people that’s what they need to do. I always tell them to do something they enjoy doing for a job that contributes to society. Once they become one of the best at it, the money will come. I tell them to disregard all preconceived notions and opinions about that job and just focus on being the best. So cool that there’s a Japanese teaching that describes the formula. If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life. Flow takes over and you become the work. Thank you so much for your video.

I enjoy knitting/crocheting, painting, drinking coffee, listening to podcast, reading, enjoying tasty treats, moving my body, spending time with a few, close people. I have so many small things to enjoy but despise my working environment. None of the things I enjoy bring income and I don't want to destroy my love of them by trying to make them make me money. It is this dilemma that brought my to Ikigai in the first place. It seems as everything beside work is perfect 🥰 Just wish I could find something that is tolerable to make an income...

Thanks for this. I used to stress so much about not having a purpose and at the end of the day it's the little things in life.

It’s funny because as I was watching another video about Ikigai that was the mistaken concept, I thought “But what if my passion in life is hanging out with my pets? And what if I don’t want to make money doing that because turning joy into a business might destroy the joy?” And now I watched your video and I understand that I was correct and you don’t have to turn your joy into money. 😊

i studied this concept for 2+ years and always tried to find ikigai. i found it pointless. i was confused as to why i wasn't getting the point and the hype and really struggled with it....tldr this really helped, thank you!

So happy i found this video,i read this beautiful book on Ikigai written by a Japanese neurologist and he was describing it exactly like you,and wben i popped on RU-vid and i saw they were talking instead about this entire bussiness mindset i was like..."oh no here again they have to change something beutiful as a way to make money" LOL GLAD you made this video for all of us❤

My IKIGAI at the moment is to make new friends and travel with family more...

M ikigai are to just be and enjoy the taste of good food, breathing, taking a walk, conversation with friends, moisturizing my skin, and dressing in a way that I like.

Well I loved this video and watched till the end. You being able to quit a 9-5 and be able to dress up to take videos is the ultimate cuteness and power of divine feminine energy Asé🤍

My ikigai is to prepare my matcha in the morning, while the cool air comes through the open window. I love this so much. And also working in the garden

That was a helpful clarification. And frankly, is easier, lol! It's really more about finding the joy of living...any small joy or pleasure...in any given moment. Much different than the pressure to find one's life purpose! Thank you.

Thank you for clearing this up. For longest time I never find the answers for that diagram. I know something was amiss but couldn' t point up.

I'm a Japanese living in Canada, and I was astonished when I saw the Ikigai chart for the first time. As you have mentioned, my Ikigai so far was to have a glass of beer with my colleagues on Friday, and/or going to a park with my little ones. Very nice post!!

Thank you Mako for simplifying Ikigai! Im having a hard time finding my Ikigai based on the diagram. But my Ikigai is eating eggs and sourdough during dinner. I love eggs, I look forward to eating it every day. :) Also, another Ikigai is me walking my worries away at the gym or at home.

Everyone has a God given purpose and talents we have been given and we must choose how to use them well.

I just read the book from the two authors who went to Okinawa. After watching this video it's actually kind of funny how irrelevant this diagram was in the book as well! Thinking back on it, I liked most of that book because it was celebrating the smaller things in life and put a lot of emphasis on community which I think is a... Not sure what the right word is, but kind of like a dying trend among younger people. Mostly because everyone is busy (most people I know have 2-3 jobs and usually also school). But at the end, the book went back to you needing a second stream of income, to become antifragile, which is, sure, a nice thought, but suddenly, it was so remote to everything else it talked about beforehand! So thank you for this video, I like this idea much better than whatever that diagram would want you to believe.

Thank you!! Finally!! LOL!!!! I learnt about the Western version of Ikigai 3 years ago, My brains were BOMBED after I decided to purchase the TRUE IKIGAI Book a year later after trying to figure out so hard (or too hard) following the over-hyped IKIGAI we knew LOL.. and thought "Holy! It has NOTHING TO DO with whatever I have learnt.. and who will share this REAL IKIGAI?" LOL!!! GREAT JOB, MAKO!!!!! Thank you for sharing your valuable insights! ♥

I'm so glad this video came out...I'm also stressed thinking of the western diagram....thank you Mako..

It is always nice to see your videos! I have heard about ikigai before from one american self development channel. He was describing it as these circles. It is great to get the correct meaning of ikigai from a Japanese person! My ikigai is painting, swimming and drinking some good tea!

thank you alot Mako. very helpful insight. I started seeing Ikigai show up on my feed and I was getting ready to start a 16-question exercise to help decipher and organize my passions. I feel that I am multi-talented and skilled in many fields. Since I am trying to leave my 9-5 career in pharmacy for a more work from home stance, this came up. I knew that I needed to find the source to make sure I was using this method correctly.

I experienced this when "hygge" became trendy. Americans seemed to think it meant "All year Christmas". Which wouldn't even be hygge... Thanks for trying to explain what it actually means. I felt so dumb picking up this book...

This was very interesting to hear Mako! One of the books that I've enjoyed reading the most is Ikigai by Garcia and Miralles. Never knew what it ACTUALLY meant and honestly the reality of the word is truly refreshing and beautiful 🌸✨️ also you look beautiful today, your cardigan is lovely!

Beautiful I love the message

Thank you for giving us the "more Japanese perspective" of ikigai. It's really hard to know your purpose with too many overwhelming categories from the Western version but with the 5 Pillars, it is easy to understand. And I think finding your purpose should not be hard, it should always be simple always. :)

Wow , Mako ! Arigató for THAT video ! It is very deep and substancial. You know what ? I indeed have no ikigai but to be on my way to find it was kind of my ikigai if that makes sense to you. lately I am deep in my own process to discover myself. I see a lot of pros like coachesses, health experts, sports instructors, relaxation- trainers and so one. I don´t wanna die without having found my ikigai ( oh-that rhymed lol ) but it´s true. My healing and health journey is such a good thing... So thank you for your inspiring vid. I will read a book about ikigai...

Absolutely loved this reality check! Thank you so much. I've only been subscribed to you for about a month but I'm so glad I found you. ❤

This video is soo good in all aspects!! Well done, I love Japan so much

Thank you for sharing this and teaching us! ❤

Your voice is so calming when you explain what ikigai truly is. To be honest, I had never heard of the concept of ikigai up until watching this video. My ikigai would probably be eating good food (desserts is a big one for me) and figure skating. I’m an adult figure skater, and I just returned to figure skating at the start of this year after a 4 year hiatus due to the pandemic. I always get excited researching how to do new moves and trying them out at the rink if I’m not in my private lesson. Skating always seems to melt my stress from my day such as work easily.

I recently completed 2 business courses - they both had a section on Ikigai with the diagram to fill out. I felt a bit of pressure to try and find out what my Ikigai is. It wasn't really that helpful. I think my answer on the diagram is actually different from what I plan to do as a business. I have so many interests which change often. Some of my family members live in Japan and as a westerner I sometimes cringe when I see our culture take concepts from other countries and turn them into a wellness or business trend. I wonder if Danish people cringe at Hygge being trendy and fashionable?

Interesting! I think there are things we can learn from both versions of Ikigai to be honest: both to really think about the big picture, and to enjoy the small things that make our world go round :) Btw, it's spelled beginners! Thought I'd let you know 😊

Wow, I learned so much from this video! Thank you so much for sharing the true meaning of ikigai

Thank you for the video! Mine is a fresh hot cup of coffee in the morning 🌸

Hii, I have been watching your videos just for a few hours this evening. I just wanna say that I admire your positivity and your authenticity. I don’t feel like you’re over exaggerating things and that you’re honest. Your video quality is amazing, and I love your way of telling and the pace. I think I found my new favorite youtuber to watch and one I look up to! Keep it going, you’re doing amazing! Have a nice day!

Love your outfit!

Thank you!! great to finally learn about the real meaning of this often used word

My ikigai today is gonna be picking the raspberries off of my fruit bush outside. I've been so excited for them to ripen~

My ikigai is watching smart Japanese women talking on the internet x) Kinda similar to your mother's, I guess. (Hi, Mako's mom)

Thank you for this.

Hi Mako, :)

It seems like a really nice concept to consider. This diagram and pilars explained definitely give to think about. Thank you for another one 😊

Love your content, would you do a makeup tutorial (share your makeup tips) someday? Like your makeup

My ikaigi is looking At flowers and seeing into the eyes of my grandchildren

Thank you for this enlightenment. 😊

I admire your video and the honesty with which you present your ideas. Ikigai, as you say, is a very simple and sometimes small appreciation of life, that is naturally experienced by the Japanese people. People in the west and Americans especially have a difficult time experiencing these things because our culture does not support those types of ideals. Instead, because we are programmed to having everything in life marketed to us, we miss these opportunities for quiet and peaceful reflections, because there is no money in that. mako., your observation that this is a co-opting of Japanese culture simply to make money is accurate and I am quite ashamed that I live in a culture that behaves so. I appreciate your sharing of ideas that are natural and so well thought out.

Interesting. Greetings from Brasil! Thks.

first comment 🎉i’m currently reading the book “ikigai” thank you for your well explained based on a real Japanese person ❤

This is such an important video. Really well made. I feel like in western culture people are very out of touch with themselves and it becomes very easy to exploit that, and that is definitely what happened with Ikigai philosophy. When what people actually need is less pressure and to do what makes them feel fulfilled, which is perfectly described in the 5 pillars you presented in the end of the video.

This was so interesting. The book "Ikigai" by Héctor Garcia is actually a bestseller, but now I'd rather read "Ikigai" by Ken Mogi. I feel like the Western world misinterprets lots of Japanese concepts. And it's really fascinating to find those. Like the whole Western obsession with Marie Kondō, who has never been that popular in Japan... The language barrier is something huge and there are not many foreigners living in Japan. I'm currently trying to learn Japanese and it's such a difficult language. I'm already fluent in English and French, plus my native Polish. Even French wasn't as difficult as Japanese... It's interesting you mentioned that young Japanese people actually struggle to find a sense of meaning in life. Work is certainly one of the most important things. But if one is not doing the work one loves, it's just the means to earn money. And it's so often the case, actually. People use the money they earn to buy "the meaning" their work doesn't give them. But material things cannot give life meaning, even if they are indispensable for a good life. Living in the moment is also part of mindfulness practice and it definitely can be a part of Ikigai. Enjoying little things... and being humble. I think most Westerners have a huge problem with being humble. The Western culture is def a culture of MORE, and it applies chiefly to material objects. I feel like the Japanese are more focused on collecting the moments, even in the means of pictures, vlogs etc. Yes, I think the spiritual and philosophical differences are so worth pointing out. My Ikigai is just a peaceful and secure life with my Kitty, as I have no kids and lost my husband. I wish I could be living close to Nature, like you do. I think this could be a part of my Ikigai. I miss the Baltic sea, it gave me such a peace of mind. Keep going Mako-san, I love your vids❤

Good vlog 😊 I learned 🎉

Thanks for your video. I didn't know ikigai after i saw ikigai diagram when i remembered it. I heard about ikigai before, and i cannot understand deeply about it, but i learned simple way from this video. It was interesting topics.

My ikigai Coffee in the morning and nature

If you think the only pay is monetary, you need to look deeper into yourself.

Thank you so much for this vidéo!

You're growing like a snowdrop in the spring. Next week I'll be posting my first vid too!

Interesting video ! My ikigai is cooking and sharing 😊.. Thanks for the info 👏

My Ikigai is working out 🏋️

I read book about Ikigai it's interesting. My Ikigai is editing videos, recently i found job on TV. Mako, thanks for your inspiration video i like it! Make video about your favourite books and movie)

You so gorgeous in that outfit Mako.

OH, the truth hurts! I've been lied to. haha! Thanks for sharing this!

i love your pearl necklace! where did you get it from?

Ya now that I think about it, the diagram looks like straight from the HR's desk

Someone Give Me Suggestions please MY love :- English Speaking Worlds need :- good communicator Paid for :- Customer service and every field need English and interview too Good at:- my English level is B1 but if i do hard work i will be fluent but i am good in English bettre with my friends Listening Speaking Writing Reading My Ikigai is correct or not ??

It’s hard to find your ikigai, but easy to find an icky guy 😄

Ikigai is just the simple pleasures in life... Or ask the French, they will have something similar

OMG that is how I felt when Billy Carsons wife had box braids lol. It's like people just take culture and it's so rude.

Oponent should be described intelligently, according to common sense in philosophical meaning

Your voice is so asmr ish ... why you ruin my mith on such beautiful tone?😁😁

I have never really been introduced to ikigai before thank you for this beautiful explanation! definitely will come back to share once i think it over what is my ikigai.

Six sigma comes to mind…but the Toyota company invented it 😅

Well people are worried about to many things because the rent must be paid lol. Abundant people know they can get paid to do the things they love because then they will have more time and money to do more things they love. Working hard in a rat race till 65 does not sound fun. #MyronGolden

Dog watches are so precise! 🕰️