A Year of Ikigai

A Year of Ikigai provides 365 bite-size pieces of Japanese philosophy for finding meaning in everyday living.

Find purpose and meaning in your day-to-day life with A Year of Ikigai, a collection of 5-minute daily reads, over 365 days, for easy understanding and integration of this Japanese philosophy.

Ikigai is not a Venn diagram with a sweet spot in the middle. It's not your bliss, nor is it your one life purpose. It's not a word or concept from Okinawa. It’s not related to longevity. And it doesn’t mean that you never retire. So, what is ikigai? Iki comes from the verb ikiru, which means “to live.” But it is not referring to your life as a whole, as in a lifetime, but rather your “everyday life.” The concept of ikigai aligns and relates to finding meaning in your day-to-day living.

In A Year of Ikigai, ikigai expert Nicholas Kemp introduces the Japanese concept of ikigai through 365 days of practical tips, exercises, and real-life examples to help you apply the principles of ikigai in tangible ways to your life, so you can answer the most important question:What gets you up in the morning?

About the Author

Nicholas Kemp is the founder and head coach of Ikigai Tribe, a small community of educators, psychologists, coaches, and trainers who serve their personal communities using the ikigai concept. His program is supported by many of Japan’s leading ikigai authorities who are contributors to his certification program and appear as regular guests on his podcast. Nick’s ultimate goal is to share the wonders of Japan to a global audience, and he also hopes to respectfully remind Japanese of what a fascinating and unique culture they have access to.

Nick currently lives in Melbourne and hosts retreats in Japan in May and November. He plans to live in Japan more permanently from late 2026.