Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Akiko Katayama covers Japanese food and culture. We all need a reason to get up in the morning. Ikigai is the term the Japanese ...

Ikagai is a Japanese philosophy that means “a reason for being.” It is a concept to live a purposeful and joyful life. It has become popular recently. It focuses on finding joy and balance in everyday ...

The Scandinavian countries all rank among the top 10 happiest countries in the world, according to the 2024 World Happiness Report conducted by the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre. In ...

What if the secret to lasting happiness lay in a simple ritual? In Japan, and particularly on the island of Okinawa, ikigai—the philosophy of life that involves giving daily meaning to one's existence ...

Discover seven time-tested Japanese principles—from ikigai to forest bathing—that the Japanese use to live longer, healthier, and more connected lives ...