生きがい Ikigai is a Japanese concept that translates to “a reason for being.” It embodies anything that provides you with a sense of purpose, joy, or motivation in life.
According to Kenichirō “Ken” Mogi, author of The Little Book of Ikigai:
“There are many ways to define Ikigai. One way to describe it is as the reason you get up in the morning. It could be something simple, like enjoying a cup of coffee and a piece of chocolate—small joys that carry you through the day. That is Ikigai.
Conversely, Ikigai can also manifest as a life-defining, ambitious goal, such as traveling to Mars, winning a Nobel Prize, or becoming a country’s Prime Minister. Thus, Ikigai can range from the small and personal to the grand and universal. In essence, Ikigai represents a spectrum, with its complexity mirroring the multifaceted nature of life itself.”
Ikigai Photography is dedicated to sharing videos, images, and words that evoke a sense of Ikigai—not only for the photographer but also for you, the viewer. Whether it’s nature, food, people, architecture, or more, Ikigai can be discovered in the smallest details, like a pebble, or in something as grand as a thousand-year-old oak tree.
About the Photographer
A Canadian woman, a professor, and an avid seeker of Ikigai moments.
Ikigai Photography 