What is your ikigai?
Iki (生き) — life.
Gai (甲斐) — worth.
Your ikigai is your reason for being.
The thing that gets you out of bed each morning with purpose and joy.
The Four Circles of Ikigai
Ikigai lives where four questions overlap. When all four align, you have found your reason for being.
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What is Ikigai? Your Reason for Being
Ikigai (生き甲斐) is a Japanese concept that translates to "reason for being." It describes the deep sense of purpose that makes life feel worthwhile — the thing that gets you out of bed each morning with energy and intention.
In Okinawa, Japan — one of the world's Blue Zones where people routinely live past 100 — residents attribute their longevity to having a clear ikigai. A 2008 study by Tohoku University found that people with a strong sense of ikigai had significantly lower rates of cardiovascular disease and lived longer, healthier lives.
Your ikigai sits at the intersection of four dimensions: what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. When all four align, you experience a profound sense of fulfilment that goes beyond mere happiness. Unlike the Western idea of "following your passion," ikigai embraces both the grand and the small — from your life's work to the simple joy of a morning ritual.
The Common Trap
Without one of the four circles, something always feels missing. Which one resonates with you?
Feeling Empty
Without: Love
Successful on paper, but hollow inside
Feeling Uncertain
Without: Skills
Passionate but unsure how to contribute
Feeling Useless
Without: World Needs
Talented but disconnected from purpose
No Wealth
Without: Payment
Meaningful work that doesn't pay the bills
Uncover your unique ikigai
Our free test takes just 3 minutes. Discover your ikigai archetype — a memorable label that captures who you really are.
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Take the Free Ikigai Test →The book that started it all
Discover the Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life
What do the world's longest-living people know that the rest of us don't? Ikigai by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles reveals the surprising practices behind Okinawa's centenarians — and how you can apply them to find your own reason for being.
生き甲斐
Ikigai
Héctor García & Francesc Miralles
The international bestseller