AS HEARD ON THE STEVE WRIGHT SHOW'FORGET HYGGE IT'S ALL ABOUT IKIGAI (THAT'S JAPANESE FOR A HAPPY LIFE)' The Times Find out how to live a long & happy life thanks to the ikigai miracle a Japanese philosophy that helps you find fulfilment joy & mindfulness in everything you do It is extraordinary that Japanese men's longevity ranks 4th in the world while Japanese women's ranks 2nd But perhaps this comes as no surprise when you know that the Japanese understanding of ikigai is embedded in their daily life & in absolutely everything that they do In their professional careers in their relationships with family members in the hobbies they cultivate so meticulously Ken Mogi identifies five key pillars to ikigai Pillar 1 Starting small Pillar 2 Releasing yourself Pillar 3 Harmony & sustainability Pillar 4 The joy of little things Pillar 5 Being in the here & now The Japanese talk about ikigai as 'a reason to get up in the morning' It is something that keeps one's enthusiasm for life going whether you are a cleaner of the famous Shinkansen bullet train the mother of a newborn child or a Michelin-starred sushi chef The Five Pillars at the heart of everything they do But how do you find your own ikigai? How does ikigai contribute to happiness? Neuroscientist & bestselling Japanese writer Ken Mogi provides an absorbing insight into this way of life incorporating scientific research & first-hand experience & providing a colourful narrative of Japanese culture & history along the way