Nippon Note #001: Ikigai/生き甲斐

5 mins of Japanese Culture

Author

Josiah Tucker
July 21, 2025

Today You Will Be Reading:

  • 🌸 Culture Today - Discovering ikigai: Japan's philosophy for finding your life's purpose

  • 🗻 Travel Thoughts - Mount Fuji: Why Japan's sacred summit should be on your bucket list

  • 🍜 Made in Japan - The instant ramen revolution that started in 1958 and fed the world

🌸 Culture Today: Ikigai/生き甲斐

Ikigai (生き甲斐), literally meaning "reason for being," is a Japanese concept that helps you find your life's purpose by identifying the intersection of four key elements: what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. This ancient philosophy has gained global attention as people seek meaning beyond material success, focusing on daily fulfillment rather than just career achievement.

The Impact of Ikigai:

  • Increased longevity - Research shows people with strong ikigai live longer

  • Better work-life balance - Helps you align career with personal values

  • Daily satisfaction - Finds meaning in simple, everyday activities

Want to Learn More?

🗻 Travel Thoughts: Mount Fuji

Japan's most iconic mountain has been inspiring reverence for centuries. Mount Fuji formed over 2.6 million years as a composite of three successive volcanoes. It is famous as the 7th tallest peak on Earth, enticing many explorers to attempt the daring ascent. Once at the peak, it is believed individuals will feel a sense of purification and feel grounded in nature. Whether you climb to the summit or simply admire from afar, Mount Fuji offers a profound connection to Japan's natural beauty and spiritual heritage.

Mount Fuji Facts & Why You Should Visit:

  • Epic Scale: Over 300,000 people climb annually (Official climbing guide)

  • Spiritual Experience: One of Japan's three holy mountains with sunrise summit views

  • Accessible Adventure: At 3,776 meters, it's climbable for most fitness levels (Visitor guide)

  • Cultural Icon: The world's most recognizable mountain shape (Photography gallery)

🛠️ Made in Japan: Instant Ramen

In 1958, Momofuku Ando witnessed hungry people waiting in long lines for ramen in post-war Japan and created a solution that would feed the world. His invention of instant ramen revolutionized quick meals forever, turning a two-minute cooking process into a global phenomenon.

Instant Ramen Facts:

  • 123.1 billion servings consumed worldwide in 2024

  • Japanese people consume almost 47 packages per person annually

  • Japanese manufacturers introduce 600 different instant ramen flavors every year

  • Weird flavors include: cacao and soy sauce broth, white chocolate broth, and Belgian chocolate ramen

Food for Thought:

“Words are not meant to stir the air only: they are capable of moving greater things.”

- Natsume Soseki

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