Ikigai
Introduction Ikigai is a book co-authored by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles that explores a Japanese concept potentially explaining the extraordinary longevity of the Japanese, especially on the island of Okinawa, where there are 24.55 people over the age of 100 for every 100,000 inhabitants. Ikigai is a Japanese concept that translates roughly as "the happiness of always being busy". Rather than harbouring animosity towards outsiders, Okinawans live by the principle of ichariba chode , a local expression that means "treat everyone like a brother, even if you have never met them before". From an early age, they practice yuimaaru , or teamwork, and so are used to helping one another, making every resident feel like part of a community. Nurturing friendships, eating light, getting enough rest, and doing regular, moderate exercise are all part of the equation for good health, but at the heart of the joie de vivre that inspires these centenarians to keep celebra...