ikigai

American  

[ee-kee-gahy] / ˌi kiˈgaɪ /

noun

1. one’s reason for being, which in principle is the convergence of one’s personal passions, beliefs, values, and vocation: those who follow the concept of ikigai undertake the activities of their life with willingness and a satisfying sense of meaning.

   The Amish may know nothing of ikigai or its roots in Japanese culture, but in many respects they adhere to its principle as a matter of tradition and routine.

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Etymology

Origin of ikigai

First recorded in 1970–75; from Japanese: literally, “value of being alive,” equivalent to iki “life, living, being alive,” from ikiru “to live” + -gai, combining form of kai “worth, value, benefit,” nominalized stem of kau “to buy”

Example Sentences

“Japanese fruits are coveted for their exceptional taste and exquisite appearance. Thanks to the meticulous cultivation methods of the farmers across Japan,” Ikigai Fruits said on its official website.

From Salon

In addition to Elly Amai’s strawberry, Japanese fruit retailer Ikigai Fruits sells a myriad of luxury fruits, including strawberries, melons, persimmons, pears and oranges.

From Salon

Per their website, Ikigai Fruits’ Kirameki strawberries — the popular bright red, conical-shaped strawberries from Saitama Prefecture, Japan — are $238 for a pack of 27.

From Salon

That has been his coping mechanism since his cryptocurrency firm, Ikigai Asset Management, lost most of its assets from last year’s collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, where he was a customer.

From New York Times

In Britain, there is an ongoing national effort called The Big Lunch, encouraging eating together and performing research about the benefits of communal eating, showing that the more often people eat with others, the more likely they are to be happy and satisfied with their lives — to come to that Japanese sense of ikigai.

From Washington Post