Article Type : Short commentary
Authors : Nishikiori Y, Bando H and Yoshioka A
Keywords : Ikigai well-being; Reason for life; Eudaimonia; Hinohara-ism; New Elderly Association (NEA)
From medical and philosophical points of view, primary care (PC) medicine, psychosomatic medicine and integrative medicine (IM) have been prevalent. Among them, the concept of ikigai has attracted attention as well-being, reason for life or eudaimonia of ancient Greek word. Ikigai well-being in the mental health can be covered by the philosophy of Hinohara-ism by New Elderly Association (NEA). Ikigai can promote the sensation of self-awareness and autonomy. Ikigai shows relationship with cognitive frailty, social frailty, physical situation, depression, anxiety, stressful matter, and other psychological issues. Consequently, research on ikigai will contribute combined development of well-being, eudamimonia and Hinohara-ism.
From medical, psychosomatic and
philosophical points of view, current medicine and medical practice have been
developed over the world [1]. Some different situation and perspectives are
present in Western and Eastern countries [2]. Author has been involved in
patient-oriented medicine, such as primary care (PC) medicine, psychosomatic
medicine, medical philosophy, integrative medicine (IM), music therapy (MT),
and so on [3]. During various activities, one of the most supreme Japanese
physicians, Dr. Shigeaki HINOHARA (1911-2017) and I have continued
enlightenment activities such as PC, MT, life style-related disease and social
development of New Elderly Association (NEA) [4]. These movement has been
called as “Hinohara-ism” [5]. This philosophy and actual movement have derived
from historical great doctors, Dr. Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) and Sir
William Osler (1849-1919) [6].
On the other hand, mental health has
become more necessary category for adequate management in our daily lives [7].
As to depression incidence, large difference has been observed between Asian
and European countries. For the background, some cross-cultural can be compared
associated with psychological characteristics. Recent focus includes the
concept of “ikigai” which is originally Japanese word [8]. It is closely
related to the way of thinking, and is beneficial for solving various
psychological problems. In this article, some perspectives of Hinohara-ism and
“ikigai” will be described. Ikigai has been defined as an experiential and
usual life phenomenon. It would relate to a person’s reason for existence or
life purpose [9]. From some meta-analyses and longitudinal investigations,
obtained evidence suggested that there was a protective beneficial point to
ikigai, a positive relationship with improved physical health, and also an
inverse correlation with all-cause mortality. From psychological point of view,
ikigai seems to be crucial for developing one's sensation of problem-solving
skills, goal attainability and also self-understanding.
In the light of philosophical
perspective, ikigai includes some fields which can promote the sensation of
self-awareness and autonomy. This concept seems to be required for identifying
the meaning for life in our daily life. There are four categories in the
following: i) what you live, ii) what you are good at, iii) what you can be
paid for, and iv) what the world is necessary for. The combination of these
four fields may give an applicable suggestion for what most makes personal life
for worth living [10]. Psychological frame of construction for the concept
“ikigai” reflects the sensation of “reason for living”. Further, it shows some
positive and beneficial health-related outcomes. In the clinical study for actual
ikigai, self-reported results of ikigai and also depression, well-being, stress
and anxiety were investigated [11]. The questionnaire of Ikigai-9 showed the
validity associated with higher reliability by English version. However, there
are language discrepancy between Japanese and English, and then it will be
required to improve further understanding for detail ikigai questionnaire.
From various research on ikigai so
far, positive relationship with improved longevity and physical health and
negative relationship with all-cause mortality were found. In particular,
ikigai seems to be linked to the factors as follows: i) decreased risk of
disability in the elderly, ii) early recovery of knee surgery treatment, iii)
increased response of immunity, iv) elevated odds of survival rate for acute
myocardial infarction (AMI), v) better health-related QOL [12]. Moreover,
ikigai has brought stronger beliefs and more health-promoting human behaviors,
such as quitting smoking and continuing daily exercising [13]. Such decision
can lead to overcoming several tuff problems, including depression, anxiety,
stressful matter, and other psychological issues [14].
In the light of the social axis, the
concept of ikigai for Japanese elderly were investigated for 4 years [15]. As a
result, increasing or maintaining social ties for other people contributed
protective function against a reduction in ikigai feeling. It was combined with
poor financial state and physical health condition. In recent report, ikigai
was investigated for the influence level of social frailty, cognitive and
physical factors [16]. The subjects were 116 community-dwelling elderly people.
Multivariate analyses were conducted for ikigai, social frailty, cognition,
falls, ADL, and then several living assessments were investigated. As a result,
ikigai was related to cognitive frailty and physical situation. Especially,
more than two overlapping factors of cognitive, social frailty, physical
situation showed negative effects on ikigai value.
Concerning the word “ikigai”, it
describes the meaning in life, which cannot be defined clearly. However, a
helpful perspective has been observed [17]. In positive psychology, three
factors of purpose, coherence and significance would be proposed. For each
person, value and worth has been crucial, and the important word “eudaimonia”
has been important which was transmitted from ancient Greece. It means the
concept of successful and responsible daily life. The research for eudaimonia
has been continued, and its significance would be involved in the previous
experience in each person [17]. Such description is related with the current
“ikigai”, that can be translated to purpose in life and/or reason for living
[18].
From mentioned above, the common and
crucial points are observed from Hinohara-ism and ikigai [19]. He established
NEA, which has three themes as to love, to initiate and to endure, one mission
as transmitting peace and love to children [20]. Further, it has five goals,
that are i) to continue a favorable lifestyle, ii) to hold an active role in
society, iii) to maintain faith and hope, iv) to give loving care for people
and express gratitude in daily life, v) to start or create novel activity,
regardless of age [21].
Ikigai well-being means physical and
psychological health, supposing the desirable culture status preferred by the
society. It includes successful aging concept [22], and social participation
and related functional abilities [23]. Such activities lead to elevated
self-efficacy recognized as well-being component with social assignment and
health-related quality of life (HRQoL) [24]. This seems to become the stream of
“ikigai”. In summary, current article presented the combined concepts of reason
for life, ikigai well-being and Hinohara-ism.
Funding
There was no funding received for
this paper.
Conflict of Interest
The authors have read and approved
the final version of the manuscript. The authors have no conflicts of interest
to declare.
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