Ikigai Spotlight Series: Naoko Murata, CEO and Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialist

Naoko: Ikigai is something that changes from moment to moment...

Ikigai is a concept that is very much integral to Japanese culture. The word 'Ikigai' can be roughly translated to your 'reason for being', or purpose and is not confined to the ‘Venn Diagram’. More on its authentic definition can be explored here.

While Ikigai is essential to one's well-being, the true beauty is that it does not have a fixed equation and can change over time.

At Mogami, we would like to highlight this nuance with our 'Ikigai Spotlight Series'

This month's featured guest is Naoko Murata, multi-hyphen CEO and Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialist currently based in Fukuoka, Japan.

Tell us your story.

I was born in Kumamoto, Japan, and while I spent a few of my early years in Seattle, US, I lived in Tokyo, Japan, from kindergarten to age 20. I spent my school years playing the sport I loved, basketball.

My adult dream was to become a court judge, and I kept taking the bar exam but could not fulfil this dream. Through caring for my grandparents, I began to wonder if there was a way to present caregiving in a more positive and hopeful way. This drive led me to become a certified Care Worker to create a caregiving events company.

I eventually started a caregiving information magazine with my care worker colleagues to share authentic insights in this field. Through my colleagues, I learned the role of a Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialist, a legal profession in Japan that files government licences and permits, drafts documents, and provides legal advice around such interactions. From there, I started my journey as a company founder in the field of legal support. This year, I also opened "Murata's House (Murata-san-chi)" to create a safe place to prevent the isolation and loneliness of both children and adults.

When was the first time you remember coming across the concept of Ikigai?

When I was a sophomore in high school, I repeatedly injured my knee, and the doctor said there was nothing we could do to get back on the basketball court. As a teenager whose only focus in life was basketball, I couldn't think of a reason to move even a finger anymore. I could no longer understand the meaning of blinking. I didn't even see the point of breathing, yet my breathing continued on its own. At this moment, I realised that "living" doesn't come from having an Ikigai but comes from "not being dead". I came to believe that if you focus on living intentionally and thoroughly, you can come across and meet your Ikigai somewhere along the way.

What has been your personal journey with your Ikigai(s) or reason for being?

Ikigai is something that changes from moment to moment.

You feel empowered and inspired by the presence of an Ikigai, and then one day, when it shifts or changes, you thank the Ikigai from the bottom of your heart, let it go, and come across your next Ikigai.

That is how I see it. Yes, it is so abstract, and I apologise!

How does your life today reflect your authentic self and life priorities?

Lately, I feel that I am always just myself...and it feels wonderful!

I feel "at ease" when I am with my family (husband and children), and my phone is far away from me.

Can you walk us through a time in your life when you felt lost? What ideas or tools helped you overcome this period?

People around me don't seem to believe me, but I am constantly troubled by my thoughts and worries. I don't recall ever overcoming these thoughts on my own. It's always someone or something else that helps me. I am so grateful to my community. There's no other way to put it. What I can do during these challenging times is to ponder and sit with these thoughts thoroughly. And then, take action! Whenever I do this, someone or something will help me overcome my struggles.

What would be your advice to anyone struggling to live a life of Ikigai?

I think having an Ikigai(s) is incredibly lucky.

Ikigai is a treasure. And because it is a rare treasure, don't worry if you have yet to find it. Instead, let's live with the excitement that every day may be when Ikigai will show up in our lives.

Saori's reflection

I found Naoko's Ikigai story a great example of the power of living intentionally and following your heart. Seeing her professional journey unfold with many chapters showed me the importance of not being constrained to one path but pursuing your interests to carve out your own career. It's inspiring to see how her various multi-hyphen roles have come together for her latest initiative, "Murata's House (Murata-san-chi)", a safe place to prevent the isolation and loneliness of both children and adults. Naoko's story gifted me the reminder of wabi-sabi, or not being controlled by the need for “permanence”. Ikigai can change from moment to moment, and in those moments, “you thank the Ikigai from the bottom of your heart, let it go, and come across your next Ikigai”.

Do you want to learn more?

For more of Naoko, you can find & support her work here: @tabooless70

The reflection and journey of the other pieces guide us to a life of Ikigai. Ikigai is a journey, not a destination. It is the outcome of being able to live as your authentic self in your everyday life.

What did this story bring up for you? Comment below.

All abroad Mogami’s Japanese Wellness Prefecture Tour: Hokkaido

Welcome to our new series, Mogami's Japanese Wellness Tour

As you may already know, Japan is a country with a rich and distinct culture that has evolved over thousands of years. Its unique geography, history, and social customs have led to the development of distinct local cultures in each of its 47 prefectures.

Each prefecture has its own flag, dialect, traditional crafts, local cuisines/specialities, festivals, wellness practices, and other cultural traditions specific to its region. With Japan being a longevity nation, it is essential to see the macro-level lifestyle principles that help drive its health metrics. However, it is also worth discovering each prefecture as it has distinct flavours.

Through this virtual wellness tour around Japan, we hope to introduce to you a few wellness-related facts about each prefecture alongside traditional Japanese crafts (伝統工芸品 dentou-kougei-hin) that have been practised, mastered and treasured over decades, especially as incorporating creativity and hands-on arts is one of the wellness principles that we focus on at Mogami.

At Mogami, we appreciate that practising your creative self is essential to long-term wellbeing.

Our goal is to highlight each prefecture's wellness practices to empower you to take control of your holistic wellbeing in a way that works for you.

Come along to discover, learn, and experience each prefecture's beauty and speciality.

A brief introduction to traditional crafts in Japan

Traditional crafts in Japan are diverse and include pottery, textiles, lacquerware, doll-making, metalwork, woodwork, and more. These crafts showcase exceptional craftsmanship, aesthetics, and design, are fundamental to Japan's cultural heritage and play a crucial role in the country's economy and tourism industry.

These crafts are identified as "traditional crafts," as they typically are produced using time-honoured techniques, materials, and traditional tools. They also have a rich and long history and cultural significance and are crafted by skilled artisans who undergo rigorous training.

Each prefecture has several crafts passed down through generations, and they are recognised and celebrated as part of the local cultural heritage. They have deep roots in local culture and history, so they often reflect essential aspects of Japanese life, such as religious beliefs, cultural practices, and artistic expressions.

The Japanese government also has an official list of traditional Japanese crafts (伝統工芸品指定 dentou-kougei-hin-shitei) established in 1975 to preserve and promote important cultural assets unique to specific regions of Japan. As of 2022, there are a total of 240 crafts on the list, all known to have historical and cultural significance.

We hope you can learn more about Japan's traditional crafts and appreciate the intricate dedication and exceptional skill needed for their masterful craftsmanship!

Onto our first destination to kick off our tour: Hokkaido

Did you know?

Hokkaido is a world-class wellness destination. It is home to unspoiled nature, pristine national parks, volcanoes, onsens (natural hot springs), top-tier ski resorts, and abundant fresh seafood.

It is also renowned for its pure, mineral-rich spring water sourced directly from the mountains.

Hokkaido Traditional Crafts: Wooden bear carving (木彫り熊)

Carved wooden bears are iconic Hokkaido souvenirs. It's a traditional wood carving craft involving intricate designs into wood blocks using specialised carving tools. The designs are often inspired by nature, featuring images of plants, animals, and landscapes that reflect the natural beauty of Hokkaido.

About artisan Kenji Sato 佐藤憲治

Born in rural Furano in 1950, Sato-san is a native of Hokkaido. Upon receiving training from his older brother in 1972, he worked independently for 51 years as a professional wood carver. Sato-san's motto is "木を大切に", which means to "cherish and value the trees". His artistic inspiration is also rooted in the concept of "mottainai," or avoiding waste and being mindful of our resources and environment.

Cherish the trees. (木を大切に)

Wooden bear carving by Sato-san

Two wooden bears were carved in a modern style using wood buried under a river for about 100 years after being knocked down by a typhoon.

"The standing bear" carved out of the Enjyu tree.

Cherishing our natural resources and adopting a sustainable lifestyle not only benefits the environment but also leads to our own sustainable wellness. By being mindful of our consumption habits and reducing waste, we preserve our planet's beauty and enhance the quality of our lives.

Let Sato-san's motto remind us to make conscious choices and prioritise the long-term wellbeing of our planet and ourselves.

Thank you Sato-san, for sharing your story and valuable input with us.

Find & support him and more of his work here: https://www.instagram.com/ken_bori/

What sparked your interest? Comment below.

We are thrilled to have you join us on a journey of discovery and immerse yourself in Japan's vibrant yet harmonious culture.

Stay tuned for our next destination next month! 👋🏻

Sources: https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/mono_info_service/mono/nichiyo-densan/index.html

Ikigai Spotlight Series: Mai Sato, Mindful Movement Coach

Mai: We can't make up Ikigai...

Ikigai is a concept that is very much integral to Japanese culture. The word 'Ikigai' can be roughly translated to your 'reason for being', or purpose and is not confined to the ‘Venn Diagram’. More on its authentic definition can be explored here.

While Ikigai is essential to one's well-being, the true beauty is that it does not have a fixed equation and can change over time.

At Mogami, we would like to highlight this nuance with our 'Ikigai Spotlight Series'

This month's featured guest is Mai Sato, Mindful Movement Coach currently based in Los Angeles, USA.

Tell us your story.

I grew up in Tokyo and I started ballet training when I was 3 years old. I stopped training at age 18 and pursued my career as a graphic designer. But I’ve always had a passion for dancing, so I started training in pole dancing as a hobby at age 27. I saw an aerial silk performance in a Cirque du Soleil show when I was 28, and I decided to try it. After I won the Pole Dance World Championship in 2009, I got the chance to perform for the Cirque du Soleil show in 2010 when I was 30 years old. Since then, I have performed for Cirque du Soleil shows for 10 years, 3 different shows, with more than 4,000 shows in total.

Currently, I use all my experiences to create my original method “Moving Meditation -Hikari Mau-“ (Light Dancing) and share my knowledge on how to maintain mental and physical health to be able to express one’s authentic self.

When was the first time you remember coming across the concept of Ikigai?

After I moved to the US, I found a book about Ikigai and my friend here also asked me about what Ikigai meant. That was the first time I started thinking about its meaning.

What has been your personal journey with your Ikigai(s) or reason for being?

It may seem like I’d been living a life of Ikigai to some, but I didn’t feel that way. I worked hard and trained hard to achieve my goal, but the core reason for that was that I wanted to be successful, accomplish good results, or to be recognized.

After working for Cirque du Soleil and meeting amazing artists from all over the world, I realised that I view life differently from them. I felt like they knew who they were, what they love, and what they can bring to the world.

Since then, I started seeking who I am and what Ikigai is for me.

I listed out what I was passionate about and reflected on my past. I found that my Ikigai wasn’t about career, titles, or skills, and that instead, I'm always searching for and following the "beauty" in things. Anything beautiful – a beautiful line, shape, colour, movement, word, or behaviour. I love to choose things based on beauty.

How does your life today reflect your authentic self and life priorities?

When I’m connected to nature, I feel like I’m connected to myself too. When I’m in a state of no ego or fear, I fully feel like myself.

Can you walk us through a time in your life when you felt lost? What ideas or tools helped you overcome this period?

I had a panic attack at the end of 2021. I was very shocked because I thought I was pretty healthy. I was away from my family and felt alone, and it was the most difficult time I've ever had. But at the same time, it was the biggest chance to change my life. I went to counselling and faced my past life memories and issues.

The most effective training for me was Tai Chi. Counselling helped me to understand myself, and Tai Chi helped me to actually change my consciousness and improve my health physically and mentally.

What would be your advice to anyone struggling to live a life of Ikigai?

Please never deny yourself. Even if you make a mistake or fail, please show love to yourself by saying for example, “I’m sorry. It is sad, but it happens sometimes. Everything will be fine. You are still doing your best.”

Do anything that makes you happy or feel good every day, even the very little things. You will find the way if you keep doing it. The true Ikigai for me arose when I created the light not to make others happy, but for myself. I believe that after reaching that place, the things you love make you purely happy, will naturally also make others happy too.

Please start to make yourself happy 100%! I think we can’t make up Ikigai, it’s something that our soul already knows. You will feel it when you let go of everything else and what society thinks about who you are. It may take time but do not give up.

Saori's reflection

Are you feeling in awe? Because I am. It is no coincidence that I listened to the DOAC Podcast episode with Professor Dacher Keltner that talks about the power of everyday awe this morning before reading Mai-san's interview.

I've had the pleasure of getting to know Mai-san over the past year through our monthly "Champagne Tower - the Power of Self-care" Instagram Lives hosted for our Japanese-speaking community, and her Ikigai story fills my soul. Reading Mai-san's journey reminds me of the importance of connecting to nature and letting go of the notion of being validated by external labels. Seeing Mai-san's work and authentic beauty in her photos gives me a sense of wonder and connection to my soul. Grateful to have a powerful, elegant, and authentic soul such as Mai-san in our community, inspiring us to find our inner beauty.

*san is an honorific suffix used in Japanese

Do you want to learn more?

For more of Mai, you can find & support her work here: https://www.instagram.com/hikarimau/

The reflection and journey of the other pieces guide us to a life of Ikigai. Ikigai is a journey, not a destination. It is the outcome of being able to live as your authentic self in your everyday life.

What did this story bring up for you? Comment below.