Ikigai-9 and the Science of Ikigai

HOW YOU CAN STRENGTHEN YOUR IKIGAI

With the help of 9 statements you can measure how strong your ikigai is. One way to invite ikigai into your life is to use these nine statements as guiding principles and repeat them inwardly - as if they were already true.

Consciously formulating these statements can help steer your thoughts in a more positive direction.

Please take good care of yourself. If this exercise puts you under pressure or even brings out the opposite in you, don't do it.

Ikigai-9: Scientific Overview

  • Development and Validation
    The Ikigai-9, developed by Imai, Osada, and Nishi (2012), is a psychometric tool designed to measure ikigai—a sense of purpose in life.
    It consists of three dimensions:

    1. Optimistic and positive feelings toward life

    2. Active, forward-looking attitude toward the future

    3. Recognition of one’s existence as meaningful

English Version in a UK Pilot Study (n ≈ 349)

  • Study Framework
    Conducted by Dr. Dean Fido (University of Derby) and colleagues, about 349 adults (average age ≈ 35) completed the English translation of Ikigai-9 via an online survey platform (Prolific). Alongside, they filled in validated measures of wellbeing, depression, anxiety, and stress.

  • Key Findings

    1. Wellbeing: Higher Ikigai-9 scores correlated positively with higher wellbeing.

    2. Depression: Strong negative association – more ikigai meant fewer depressive symptoms.

    3. Anxiety & Stress: No statistically significant associations with ikigai.

  • Additional Insight
    Average self-reported ikigai levels in the UK were similar to those found in Japanese samples.

  • Interpretation

    • Ikigai-9 appears to be a reliable indicator of general mental wellbeing and protective against depression.

    • Lack of correlation with stress and anxiety may reflect cultural differences or measurement issues.

    • Further research is needed to clarify these patterns across cultures.

Recommended Readings on Ikigai and Purpose

1. Core Ikigai & Measurement (incl. EU validations)

  • Imai, Osada & Nishi (2012). Original Ikigai-9 development and validation in Japan.

  • Fido & Kotera (2019). English translation and validation of the Ikigai-9 in a UK sample (n=349). Showed links to wellbeing and depression, but not anxiety or stress.

  • Vandroux et al. (2023). French validation of the Ikigai-9; useful for cross-cultural comparison.

  • Hajek et al. (2024). German validation of the Ikigai-9 in a large representative sample (5,000 participants)

2. Western Samples & Mental Health

  • Wilkes, Garip, Kotera & Fido (2023). Examined whether Ikigai predicts anxiety, depression, and wellbeing in Western populations. Strong for wellbeing and depression; anxiety results were mixed once demographics were controlled.

  • Kumano (2018). Conceptual paper highlighting how ikigai in Japan aligns more with eudaimonic wellbeing, while “shiawase” relates to hedonic wellbeing.

3. Mechanisms & Context

  • Iida & Oguma (2013). Flow experiences in Tai Chi practitioners predicted a stronger sense of coherence through Ikigai. Suggests Ikigai as a mediator of resilience.

  • Randall et al. (2023). Study on Ikigai, wellbeing, and robot acceptance among older Japanese adults. Showed Ikigai is tied to eudaimonic wellbeing and raised questions about how technology might support Ikigai in ageing societies.

4. Large Eastern Cohorts & Health Outcomes

  • Sone et al. (2008). The Ohsaki cohort study: absence of Ikigai was linked to higher mortality, especially from cardiovascular causes.

  • Okuzono, Shiba, Kim, Kondo & VanderWeele (2022). JAGES study: Ikigai predicts happiness, life satisfaction, functional ability, and lower distress over time.

  • Miyazaki et al. (2022). JACC study: Ikigai and purpose associated with lower cardiovascular mortality, with differences across employment status.

5. Broader “Purpose in Life” Literature

  • Hill & Turiano (2014). Purpose in life predicted lower mortality in US longitudinal data (MIDUS study).

  • Alimujiang et al. (2019). Life purpose inversely associated with mortality in the US Health and Retirement Study.

6. Popular / Reader-Friendly Studies

  • Harvard Study of Adult Development (Waldinger et al.). Eight decades of data show that the quality of relationships strongly predicts health and longevity.

  • Blue Zones (Buettner). Investigations into regions with high longevity, including Okinawa, where Ikigai plays a cultural role.

  • McKinsey Health Institute (2024). Global survey (n≈41,000) highlighting spiritual health—meaning, purpose, and connection—as a core dimension of wellbeing.

Special outlook on the German Validation of the Ikigai-9 due to the large sample size

The German validation of the Ikigai-9 scale, published in 2024, deserves particular attention because of the unusually large and representative sample on which it is based. While earlier Western studies—such as the English translation and validation in the United Kingdom—were conducted with several hundred participants, the German team worked with a quota sample of 5,000 adults aged 18 to 74 years. This size, alongside the balanced representation of age, sex, and federal states, makes the German dataset the most robust European reference point for Ikigai research so far.

The translation process followed strict international guidelines, with forward and backward translations carried out by bilingual experts. The developers of the original Japanese scale, including Professor Imai, were directly involved to ensure conceptual accuracy. Particular care was taken with terms that carry deep cultural nuance, such as yutori (spaciousness of mind), which required careful adaptation to the German context.

From a psychometric perspective, the German results are striking. Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega both at 0.88), and confirmatory factor analysis supported the original three-factor structure of the scale: positive emotions toward life, orientation toward the future, and recognition of one’s own existence. This stands in contrast to the UK validation, where a one-factor solution appeared more plausible. The German data therefore confirm that the multidimensional nature of Ikigai can be meaningfully distinguished even in a Western cultural context.

The associations with mental health and wellbeing measures underline the relevance of Ikigai in the German population. Higher Ikigai values were strongly correlated with greater happiness (r = 0.62) and life satisfaction (r = 0.57). At the same time, higher Ikigai scores were linked with fewer depressive symptoms (r = –0.43) and less anxiety (r = –0.39). These effect sizes are not only statistically highly significant but also of practical importance, as they suggest that Ikigai captures aspects of psychological resilience and life orientation that conventional wellbeing measures alone cannot fully explain.

The study also provides reference values for different demographic groups. The average total Ikigai score was 31.9 (on a scale from 9 to 45), with only small differences between men and women. However, socioeconomic conditions made a clear difference: individuals with tertiary education or stable employment tended to score higher, while unemployed participants scored significantly lower (average 27.5). These findings open a pathway for applying Ikigai not only in clinical or therapeutic contexts, but also in social policy and employment research.

Looking forward, the German validation sets the stage for more ambitious research designs. Longitudinal studies could test how stable Ikigai is over time and whether it predicts long-term health outcomes in ways similar to the large Japanese cohort studies. The current sample covered adults up to age 74; future projects might include older populations or adolescents, making it possible to examine how Ikigai develops across the lifespan. Moreover, the rich dataset allows for nuanced explorations of moderating and mediating variables, such as the role of self-esteem, lifestyle factors, or cultural identity in shaping Ikigai.

Most importantly, the German study creates a solid foundation for cross-cultural comparisons. Together with existing validations in Japan, the UK, France, and Turkey, it allows researchers to examine whether Ikigai functions as a universal human orientation toward meaning, or whether cultural differences influence its structure and impact. In this way, the German validation not only strengthens the methodological rigor of Ikigai research but also opens the door for a truly international dialogue on the meaning of purpose in life.

Sample

  • Large, representative quota sample of the German population (n = 5000, age 18–74).

  • Collected August–September 2023. Balanced by age, sex, and federal state.

  • Average age: 46.9 years; 50.8% female.

Translation Process

  • Conducted following international guidelines.

  • Forward and back translations with bilingual experts and involvement of Prof. Imai (developer of the original Ikigai-9).

  • Special attention given to culturally sensitive items, e.g., “Yutori” (spaciousness of mind).

Psychometrics

  • Reliability: Cronbach’s α = 0.88, McDonald’s ω = 0.88 (excellent).

  • Subscales also reliable (0.76–0.84).

  • Construct validity: Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the original three-factor model (positive emotions, future orientation, recognition of existence). Fit indices were satisfactory (CFI = 0.955; RMSEA = 0.076).

Concurrent Validity (correlations)

  • Ikigai negatively associated with:

    • Depressive symptoms: r = −0.43

    • Anxiety symptoms: r = −0.39

  • Ikigai positively associated with:

    • Happiness: r = 0.62

    • Life satisfaction: r = 0.57

    • Health-related quality of life: r = 0.42

  • All results statistically highly significant.

Reference Values (mean scores)

  • Average total score: 31.9 (scale 9–45).

  • Similar scores for men and women; slightly higher for those with tertiary education or stable employment; lower for unemployed individuals (27.5).

Key Insights

  • First validated German version of Ikigai-9.

  • Confirms ikigai as a reliable predictor of mental wellbeing in German-speaking populations.

  • Unlike the UK validation (which suggested a one-factor model), the German data supported the original three-factor structure.

  • Provides baseline reference values for future studies in Germany.

Future Research Directions

  • Longitudinal studies to test stability of ikigai over time and potential for interventions.

  • Extend to older populations (75+) and adolescents.

  • Explore moderators (sex, education) and mediators (e.g., self-esteem, lifestyle) in links between ikigai and health outcomes.

  • Enable systematic cross-cultural comparisons (Japan, UK, France, Turkey, Germany).

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