Book Review
- Jul 2
- 2 min read
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life
by Francesc Miralles and
Hector Garcia
Why do some people in communities in Japan and across the world live unusually long and fulfilled lives?
The Japanese have a word which loosely translates to ‘fulfilled life’ or purpose which is referred to in the Okinawan islands as an Ikigai.
In Okinawa, it is not unusual to meet individuals in their 90s or even over 100.
This book explores the idea that having a purpose and not seeing retirement as the end of your life, rather a new beginning, is one of the keys. Interestingly, the book contains numerous anecdotes about individuals who literally grasp a lust for life even in their 80s and 90s.
Many of these individuals have not surprisingly healthy diets, routine exercise, and friends and connections to their local communities. This engagement with people is perhaps another key to longevity.
In contrast, the book finishes with profiles mostly of individuals from Japan who have led long and fulfilled lives. They quote the life of Genne Calment (1875 – 1997). She is verified as dying at 122 years and 164 days in France. She was known for her sense of humour, enjoyed olive oil on all of her food, and ate up to 1 kilogram of chocolate per week for all of her life.
Throughout much of her life, she continued smoking until she was 117 years old.
She lived on her own from ages 88 until just before her 110th birthday where she finally moved into a nursing home. This gives us a fascinating insight into the whole concept of well-being.
We would encourage readers to begin the process right now of finding out what their ikigai is.
Written by Professor Andrew McDonnell
