Narrator: In the north of Okinawa, Japan, lies a small, rural village named Ogimi. On the surface, it’s an unremarkable place, lush with green hills and a slow pace of life. But Ogimi holds a remarkable secret: it has the highest life expectancy in the world. It’s known as the “Village of Longevity,” a place where centenarians are not an anomaly but a celebrated part of the community. They don’t just live long; they live with a vibrant joy, tending to their gardens, laughing with friends, and celebrating birthdays well past their 100th year. What is their secret? Is it the diet? The subtropical climate? The strong community bonds?

In their book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, authors Héctor García and Francesc Miralles embark on a journey to answer this very question. They travel to Ogimi, sit with its oldest residents, and uncover a concept that lies at the heart of their vitality. It’s a mysterious Japanese word, ikigai, which translates roughly to “the happiness of always being busy” or, more profoundly, “a reason to live.” The book reveals that this sense of purpose is the existential fuel that powers a long, meaningful, and happy life.

Narrator: The journey to understanding ikigai begins with a simple observation: in Japan, there is no word for retirement in the Western sense of leaving the workforce for good. Instead, there is a deeply ingrained cultural belief in staying active and engaged with what you love for as long as possible. This is the essence of ikigai. It’s the reason you get up in the morning. It’s not necessarily your job or a grand, world-changing mission; it can be as simple as tending to a garden, mastering a craft, or nurturing relationships.

The authors found this principle embodied in the people of Ogimi. With a staggering 24.55 centenarians for every 100,000 inhabitants—far exceeding the global average—the village became a living laboratory for longevity. The residents’ lives are guided by their ikigai. They have a strong sense of purpose that is interwoven with their daily activities and their community. This is supported by powerful social traditions like moai, which are close-knit social groups that provide emotional and even financial support throughout a person’s life. They also practice ichariba chode, an Okinawan expression meaning “treat everyone like a brother, even if you’ve never met them before.” This combination of individual purpose and communal support creates an environment where people don’t just survive; they thrive.

Narrator: While the Okinawan lifestyle provides a cultural blueprint for ikigai, the psychological underpinnings are found in the work of Viktor Frankl, a psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor. In his book Man's Search for Meaning, Frankl introduced logotherapy, a school of psychology based on the idea that the primary human drive is not pleasure, but the pursuit of what we find meaningful. He famously quoted Nietzsche: "He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how."

Frankl’s own story is a harrowing testament to this principle. Imprisoned in Auschwitz, he lost everything, including a manuscript containing his life’s work. In the depths of despair, surrounded by death and suffering, he found a reason to live: the need to rewrite his book. This purpose, this why, gave him the strength to endure the unimaginable horrors of the camp. He realized that even when everything is taken from us, we retain the freedom to choose our attitude and find meaning in our suffering. Ikigai is the Japanese equivalent of this concept. It is the “why” that gives us the resilience to face life’s challenges, from minor daily frustrations to profound existential crises.

Narrator: If ikigai is the purpose, then “flow” is the state in which that purpose is joyfully expressed. Coined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, flow is the experience of being so completely immersed in an activity that everything else disappears. Time melts away, your sense of self dissolves, and you become one with the task. This is the state where work feels like play, and it’s a powerful indicator that you are engaged with your ikigai.

The book highlights how Japanese culture is rich with examples of flow, particularly among its master artisans, or takumi. Consider the story of a takumi in the town of Kumano, who spends her days in a quiet, sunlit room meticulously sorting bristles for high-end makeup brushes. Her movements are precise, focused, and performed with a deep sense of pride and concentration. She is in a state of flow, finding deep satisfaction in a task that others might find tedious. This principle isn't just for masters; it can be found in what the authors call “microflow”—turning mundane tasks like washing dishes or organizing a closet into a mindful, engaging ritual. By identifying which activities put you in a state of flow, you can get closer to understanding your own ikigai.

Narrator: While a strong sense of purpose is the engine of a long life, the body is the vehicle, and it requires proper maintenance. The residents of Ogimi don’t just have a powerful ikigai; they also follow a set of simple, time-tested principles for physical well-being. One of the most important is the Confucian mantra, “Hara hachi bu,” which means “fill your belly to 80 percent.” Okinawans stop eating when they feel almost full, a practice that results in a lower daily calorie intake—around 1,800 to 1,900 calories compared to the 2,200 to 3,300 consumed by the average American.

Their diet is also remarkably diverse and plant-heavy, featuring a wide variety of vegetables, tofu, sweet potatoes, and fish. They consume very little sugar and salt. Furthermore, their approach to exercise is not about intense, grueling workouts at the gym. Instead, they incorporate gentle, constant movement into their daily lives through walking, gardening, and practices like radio taiso, a popular Japanese morning warm-up. This holistic approach—combining a clear purpose with a mindful diet, strong social ties, and gentle, consistent movement—creates a powerful formula for longevity.

Narrator: Life is unpredictable and often filled with setbacks. The Okinawan centenarians have weathered immense personal and historical challenges, including World War II. Their longevity is therefore a testament to their profound resilience. This resilience is not just about bouncing back; it’s about an attitude that accepts life’s impermanence and finds beauty in its flaws. This is captured in the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, which is the appreciation of the beauty in things that are imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. It’s about finding peace in the natural cycle of growth and decay.

Another key concept is ichi-go ichi-e, which translates to “this moment exists only now and won’t come again.” It reminds us to focus on the present and cherish each encounter, because it is unique and will never be repeated. These philosophies cultivate a mindset that is not easily shaken by stress or worry. Instead of striving for an unattainable ideal of perfection and control, they teach us to adapt, appreciate the present, and find strength in adversity. This is the spirit of the Japanese proverb, “Nana korobi ya oki”: Fall seven times, rise eight.

Narrator: The ultimate lesson from Ikigai is that a long and happy life is not a problem to be solved but a journey to be lived with purpose. It’s not about finding one perfect, grand ikigai, but about nurturing the things that bring you joy and meaning every day. The wisdom of the Okinawan people is not a complex formula but a simple, elegant compass pointing toward a life of fulfillment.

Their philosophy is beautifully summarized in ten rules shared in the book, including: stay active and don’t retire; take it slow; surround yourself with good friends; smile; reconnect with nature; and live in the moment. Perhaps the most important challenge the book leaves us with is to look at our own lives and ask: What is my reason for getting up in the morning? The answer is your ikigai, and following it is the art of living.