This Is Ikigai 365: Your Journey to Feeling Alive and Fulfilled Everyday

’This book shares real-life stories of individuals in Japan who are quietly and powerfully living their Ikigai, through thoughtful introspection, emotional renewal and the pursuit of a life lived with meaning. I encourage you to read it, absorb its message, and enjoy it!’
--Dr. Riley Moynes, Author, The Four Phases of Retirement

’Through the wisdom of the twenty-three individuals in this book, you will find your reasons to wake up each morning. If you want to have a meaningful life, read this book.’
--Eric Sim, Author, Small Actions

’A graceful, grounded guide to living with meaning. This Is Ikigai365 weaves timeless insight with heartfelt stories--quietly powerful, deeply personal, and beautifully practical.’
--Dandapani, Author, The Power of Unwavering Focus

Making life ’worth living everyday’ is something every single one of us on the planet deserves - yet so many of us often feel stuck, helpless or empty navigating the relentless daily barrage of both external stimuli and internal thoughts and struggle to truly embrace the daily roller-coaster of emotions. Ikigai365 takes a centuries-old Japanese concept to try and help humankind ’make life worth living everyday’ no matter where you find yourself today.

Through deeply personal stories of real Japanese people from their 20s all the way to centenarians, This is Ikigai365 aims to transport you to Japan and feel like you are meeting all our inspiring real-life heroes from all walks of life and experience a full spectrum of their life stories ranging from ’Life Worth Net Worth’ to ’Caring is the Ultimate form of Giving’ or ’ReWire Don’t Retire’ to ’Curiosity is Ageless’. We are publishing this book to help you feel inspired to take baby steps forward on your own Ikigai journeys as the stories inspire you to use the tools to discover what uniquely makes you ’feel alive & fulfilled’. Our sincere hope is that over time we can all collectively evolve from the current state of HUMAN DOINGS to truly become HUMAN BEINGS.

AkihiroHasegawa is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at Teikyo University, Japan. Since beginning his academic career in 1997, he has focused primarily on Ikigai, which was also the topic of his PhD thesis. His clinical expertise includes brief psychotherapy, couple and family therapy, clinical dohsa-hou (motor-action therapy), and hypnosis. An active member of several academic societies, Prof. Hasegawa has also served as chief editor for the Japanese Society of Hypnosis.

Originally from Chennai, Sumathy has made Kobe, Japan, her home for over twenty-five years. Beginning her life in Japan as a homemaker, she explored diverse professional interests that shaped her varied career. A firm believer in lifelong learning through experiences and reading, she finds inspiration in everyday encounters, which fueled her fascination with Ikigai. A mother of two, she also enjoys discovering Japan’s hidden gems.

Shivendu Nadkarni is a business leader turned human capital catalyst. After twenty-five years in Fortune 500 MNCs across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa, he is now an educator, mentor, and advisor to small businesses, as well as a researcher and practitioner of Ikigai. Shiv also serves as an adjunct associate professor at NUS Business School in Singapore, where he has lived for nearly two decades.

Rajiv Bajaj is the Chairman of Bajaj Capital, a respected name in Indian financial guidance for over five decades. After more than thirty years in investment banking, wealth management, and financial planning, Rajiv became interested in what makes life truly fulfilling. His exploration led him to the world’s ’blue zones, ’ regions where people often live to 100 or more, where he discovered Ikigai and became a coach in the practice.

Rati Arora is an internationally certified health and wellness coach with over a decade of corporate experience. Her transition into motherhood taught her that self-care is not a luxury but a necessity. She realigned her career with her true passion and Ikigai, recognizing that those who care for others--especially women--often neglect their own emotional and physical well-being.