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The oldest and happiest people in the world are said to live on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa. American reporter and writer Dan Buettner (63) noted this in a sensational report he prepared for National Geographic magazine in 2005. 100-year-old fruit farmers or 92-year-old sushi masters are not uncommon in Okinawa. Old age and, above all, happiness seem inevitable for the island. Near the small village of Ogimi in the north of the island, there is said to be a stone marker that reads: “You are just a young man, 80 years old. “If your ancestors are calling you to heaven at the age of 90, ask them to wait until they are 100, then you can consider it.”
The reason for living long in Okinawa lies in “Ikigai”, which in Japanese means “that which is worth getting up in the morning” or, more simply, “that which is worth living for”. There has been a real hype surrounding the Japanese philosophy of life in recent years.
Numerous guides try to outdo each other in discovering the secrets of the Japanese way of life. Sabina Misoch (53), a sociologist and aging researcher at the University of Applied Sciences in Eastern Switzerland, conducted research on longevity in Okinawa. “It’s not just another lifestyle trend from the Far East,” says She. On the contrary, Ikigai has a learning model behind it from which we can learn a lot.”
Future-oriented lifestyle
Misoch says Ikigai can be defined as the feeling of having a valuable life. A sense of social integration and control over one’s own life. Today and in the future. “It is a future-oriented lifestyle. People with a strong Ikigai look forward every day.” This is especially important for older people. They do not complain about the past, they look to the future with confidence despite their old age.
And in fact: a study published in 2022 in the specialist journal “Lancet” states that a strong Ikigai significantly contributes to health and well-being in old age. Among the thousands of people surveyed, those with strong Ikigai were 36 percent less likely to develop dementia. They also had less depression and were generally more satisfied with life.
social integration
But Misoch says Ikigai is difficult to define precisely. “It’s the interaction of psychosocial factors.” What this means: A positive attitude towards life is a mix of engagement and a sense of responsibility and solid social integration that makes getting up every day worth it.
“Older people in Okinawa are very closely integrated into society.” Misoch says that people there do not have a classical idea about retirement or retirement. “They work as much as they can and for as long as they want.” That’s why there are fruit growers over 100 years old who always feel that their work is meaningful and fulfilling.
Japanese neuroscientist Ken Mogi (61) wrote the guide “Ikigai: The Japanese Art of Living” in 2018, which he wrote in 2018 and will continue to be on the bestseller lists in 2024. In it he describes the five pillars of Ikigai:
- Start small with a nice moment like a cup of tea a day
- Learn to let go, forget status and money
- Live in harmony and sustainability
- Enjoy little things like birds
- Be fully here and now
Ikigai is not difficult
“While these points may seem very mundane, this is where the essence of Ikigai lies,” says Misoch. “It is not an achievement to orient yourself to the fundamental pillars.” It is important to hold on to these little things: humility, harmony, serenity, a good start to the day, being present here and now. “The longer research continues, the more it becomes clear that these seemingly simple aspects contribute to a longer, happier life.”
Misoch says the reason interest in Ikigai is so high in Europe is because our society often points in a different direction. Everything needs to be faster, better or more efficient. “When older people in Okinawa show us how a contrasting lifestyle leads to happiness and health, it fascinates us.” And precisely because Ikigai basically offers very simple instructions, it is an opportunity for us to adopt the building blocks of our lives from it.
Source : Blick
I am Dawid Malan, a news reporter for 24 Instant News. I specialize in celebrity and entertainment news, writing stories that capture the attention of readers from all walks of life. My work has been featured in some of the world’s leading publications and I am passionate about delivering quality content to my readers.
