★Drawing on the concept of Ikigai365, it helps people embrace daily emotional ups and downs and makes life worth living every single day.
★Based on true stories, it records the lives of real Japanese people ranging from their twenties to centenarians, letting readers experience their rich and colorful life stories and regain vitality and contentment.

Making life ‘worth living everyday’ is something every single one of us on the planet deserves – yet so many of us often feel stuck, helpless or empty navigating the relentless daily barrage of both external stimuli and internal thoughts and struggle to truly embrace the daily roller-coaster of emotions. Ikigai365 takes a centuries-old Japanese concept to try and help humankind ‘make life worth living everyday’ no matter where you find yourself today.

Through deeply personal stories of real Japanese people from their 20s all the way to centenarians, This is Ikigai365 aims to transport you to Japan and feel like you are meeting all our inspiring real-life heroes from all walks of life and experience a full spectrum of their life stories ranging from ‘Life Worth =/ Net Worth’ to ‘Caring is the Ultimate form of Giving’ or ‘ReWire Don’t Retire’ to ‘Curiosity is Ageless’. We are publishing this book to help you feel inspired to take baby steps forward on your own Ikigai journeys as the stories inspire you to use the tools to discover what uniquely makes you ‘feel alive & fulfilled’. Our sincere hope is that over time we can all collectively evolve from the current state of HUMAN DOINGS to truly become HUMAN BEINGS.

Akihiro Hasegawa
Akihiro Hasegawa is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at Teikyo University, Japan.
Through his academic career, which began in 1997, he has primarily focused on Ikigai, which was also the topic of his PhD thesis. His clinical expertise includes brief psychotherapy, especially brief therapy, couple therapy, family therapy, clinical dohsa-hou (motor-action therapy), as well as hypnosis.
As an active member of several academic societies, Prof. Hasegawa has held several roles, including serving as the chief editor for the Japanese Society of Hypnosis. Additionally, he has contributed to the Japanese Association of Brief Psychotherapy and the Japanese Society for Psychotherapy Integration, where he has been involved in public relations, training, and editorial committees.

Rajiv Bajaj
Rajiv Bajaj is the Chairman of Bajaj Capital, one of India’s most trusted financial planning institutions serving families across generations.
Despite his success in finance, Rajiv felt an inner void — a yearning to pursue something deeper and more fulfilling. This search led him to explore the science of longevity and well-being. His journey took him to the world’s “Blue Zones”, including Loma Linda and Okinawa, where he met vibrant centenarians and discovered their shared secret — a profound sense of purpose, or Ikigai.
Rajiv is deeply passionate about bringing an authentic understanding of Ikigai to the world. He integrates insights from his travels, studies, and personal reflections into his talks and workshops, inspiring others to live with greater meaning and harmony.
He has shared his perspectives on Ikigai, purpose, and longevity through several TEDx talks, and continues to speak on living a life that feels truly alive. A lifelong learner, he also trained in Qi Gong under a Shaolin Monk in China in 2017 and 2025.

Rati Arora
Rati Arora is an internationally certified health and wellness coach with over a decade of experience in corporate roles. Her transition into motherhood brought a powerful lesson: self-care is not a luxury, but a necessity. Soon, she realigned her career with her true passion and Ikigai.
Through her journey, she discovered that those who care for others—especially women—often neglect their own emotional and physical well-being.
Embracing the belief that ‘you can’t pour from an empty cup’, Rati now dedicates herself to helping women entrepreneurs and professionals reclaim balance, confidence, and a sense of self, aside from investing in parenting courses.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Rati cherishes one of her most personal Ikigai: her role as a mother to her son, Nihit.

Shivendu Nadkarni
Shivendu Nadkarni is a successful business leader-turned-human capital catalyst. After twenty-five years of ‘first career’ with renowned Fortune500 MNCs across Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa, he is now well into his ‘second career’ as an educator, mentor, and advisor - along with being a researcher and practitioner of Ikigai.
Shiv serves as an adjunct associate professor at NUS Business School in Singapore, where he supports students & executives on their learning journeys in 3 key areas: strategy, innovation, and internationalization.
Shiv has settled for in Singapore after living & working in very diverse global environments - growing up in multiple regions of India before working a decade in Japan. Shiv enjoys travelling in nature and exploring the history & origins of ‘everything’. His perspectives on all things human, societal, and business evolves everyday as he observes life stories and learns from interactions with many different people from all corners of the world and various walks of life.
Shiv’s mission on Ikigai365 is to help every human keep (re)discovering their own personal sources of ‘feeling alive & fulfilled’. He believes that everyone can shape their own life journeys every day and leave impactful legacies for future generations.

Sumathy Gajapathy
Originally from Chennai, Sumathy has spent more than twenty-five years making Kobe—a city in central Japan—her home.
Starting her life in Japan as a homemaker, Sumathy explored diverse professional interests that shaped her varied career. A firm believer in lifelong learning through people’s experiences and reading, she finds inspiration in everyday encounters that continue to shape her worldview—something that kindled her fascination with Ikigai.
A mother of two, she draws inspiration from her children and spends time discovering Japan’s hidden gems.