Ikigai And Belonging

One Japanese word can change your life. It did for us, and it’s how we met Kumiko Sugiyama, a Japanese language coach, business Japanese trainer, and ICF Associate Certified Coach who blends language learning with coaching, communication skills, and a deep love of Japanese culture.

We talk through Kumiko’s real-world path across sales, parenting, startups, community work, and finally teaching Japanese to executives and engineers. Then we dig into her informal Ikigai survey of 100 people and what it reveals about how Japanese people experience purpose: not as a single “dream job,” but as something felt in daily life, relationships, hobbies, and contribution. We share examples that range from personal joy to family wellbeing to meaningful work, and we look at why Ikigai often sounds more practical and relational in Japan than it does online.

From there, we explore Ibasho, the “place to be” where you can show up as yourself and feel a sense of belonging. Kumiko explains how shared-interest communities build warmth, safety, and growth, and we connect it to positive psychology, strengths, and motivation. We also reflect on loneliness, social withdrawal, and why in-person community may become even more important as AI changes work and connection. Along the way we touch on beautiful Japanese concepts like ohitorisama and yutori, and how language can shape wellbeing.

Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s searching for meaning, and leave a review with the Japanese word that has colored your life.

Transcript

Welcome And Masterclass Backstory

SPEAKER_01 0:00

My guest today is Kumiko Sugiyama, a Japanese language coach, a Japanese language trainer, and an ICF Associate Certified Coach. Kumiko helps learners achieve their goals by drawing on their unique personalities and strengths with a focus on both Japanese language development and communication skills. Passionate about the transformative power of language learning, Kumiko believes that studying Japanese can be a pathway to pursuing one's dreams and aspirations. She is also dedicated to sharing the beauty of the Japanese language and the value of coaching with people around the world. Kumiko, it's good to see you. Welcome to the podcast.

SPEAKER_00 0:50

Hi, Nixan. I am Kumiko. I'm a Japanese language teacher, so I'm glad to be here today. So thank you for having me today. Arigato Kataimas.

SPEAKER_01 1:02

Kachirakasala Arigato, it's good to see you. Of course, uh we we met a few months ago, but our backstory is I reached out to you on LinkedIn in September of 2023 when I stumbled upon an article you wrote on Ikigai. And I was really inspired by your article, and I thought, ah, she would make a great guest. So I asked you to join me on the podcast back then, but you felt you weren't ready. Then, this May, you attended my Tokyo Masterclass, and you shared with me that your English had improved and that you were confident. And I had you speak on the theme of change and growth, and you touched on that and your transformation. And so I decided to invite you on the podcast again. And now here you are as a guest. So I'm very happy that you're here today. And I was very grateful that you attended the masterclass. So, what did you think of the masterclass two months ago?

SPEAKER_00 2:15

That was a great opportunity to attend the Ikigai Master course. And I met you in person finally, so I was glad to be there. And then some professionals shared their how to say uh insight or like rulefulness and yes, and ikigai, yes, a lot of things, and shared in English. And attendees was most of the foreign people, so most of them are Japanese, so that was so um great diversity to me. So that was interesting, and so I was so excited to share my story in English, in public.

SPEAKER_01 3:02

Yes. You did great, yeah. You did really good. It was a good day, and I was very surprised and honored that I think we we had 17 participants and seven were Japanese, and I was like, wow, Japanese are really interested in this aspect of Ikigai and and rolefulness. And I I guess we also touched on Ibashol, not not just from a cultural perspective, but from a evidence-based or research perspective. Um, of course, we had Ken Moggy.

SPEAKER_00 3:36

Yeah, sure, sure. So famous in Japan.

SPEAKER_01 3:41

Very entertaining presentation. Yes. All

Kumiko’s Career Through Many Roles

SPEAKER_01 3:46

right. So would you like to talk about your background and what led you to pursuing your current roles? As we said, you're a Japanese language coach, a Japanese language trainer, and an ICF Associate certified coach. What led you to those roles?

SPEAKER_00 4:03

Okay, thank you. My career started in sales at a trading company. This was because my family had been running a tea shop, green tea shop, since my grandfather's generation. And I grew up watching my parents' work, which sparked my interest in business. I majored in business administration in my university. Within that field, I developed an interest in international trade. And during my university years, I became passionate about learning more about fair trade and volunteered with NGOs, supporting Nepal and Bangladesh. I often helped organize events and worked as a volunteer in an international charity event. After working in sales for several years, I got married and had children and two children. Wow. It was a major change just four years into my career. After that, I spent several years juggling work at parenting, working as a staff at a startup, working at a donut shop, creating recipes, teaching cooking classes for parents and children, and organizing handmade craft workshops for kids. At the time, due to the challenge of being a parent, I needed to let go of my job so I can prioritize my children. Fortunately, a close friend who is a German reached out to me and offered an opportunity to join him in launching his company in 2017. The company provided management training. At the time, there were only about three of us. And as the part of my administrative role, I was responsible for almost everything, from public relations, customer service, facilitating sessions, and designing workshops. I left the company two years ago. But the knowledge, network, and experience I gained there helped me improve my career. That's where I first learned about coaching. At the time, I met you on LinkedIn, so I was amazed to meet you. And then so the focusing on especially on my work as a Japanese language teacher, I began teaching professionally in 2019 around the time of the pandemic. Including my time as a volunteer, I've been teaching Japanese for over 15 years. I currently teach business Japanese mainly to business professionals at language schools and online. I specialize in teaching Japanese to executives and engineers. So my background is longest because my Ikigai is related to my personal experience.

SPEAKER_01 7:33

Thank you. It's a very roleful background. You've had many roles.

SPEAKER_00 7:38

Yes. Rollful, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:41

You've also raised a family and you have two children. How old are your children now?

SPEAKER_00 7:49

So now so the son, my son is 17 years old. And my daughter is 16 years old.

SPEAKER_01 7:58

Wow, so you're a busy mother, teacher, trainer, coach, and you can even make delicious donuts, I guess.

SPEAKER_00 8:09

I hope so.

SPEAKER_01 8:13

Well, that's amazing.

Ikigai Survey And Key Findings

SPEAKER_01 8:15

So let's go back to your articles on Ikigai that you wrote in 2023. I would like to quote what you wrote in the article. Quote, first of all, I would like to let you know that Ikigai is something very personal for Japanese people. It is not something we share with others on a daily basis. And we do not directly ask someone, what is your Ikigai? It is very precious and represents a person's way of life. So at the beginning of the global pandemic, to learn more about Ikigai, you did an informal survey of a hundred people asking friends, co-workers, people you knew from work, community members, your mother's friends, uh people from your haiku club, so your Japanese poetry club, your siblings, your husband, and even your children, um, people basically of all ages, about Ikigai. So do you want to talk about the results?

SPEAKER_00 9:21

Yeah, sure. I did survey an informal survey for my 100 people. 30% were in their 30s, 29% were in their forties, 19% were in their 60s, and 78% were female, and 22% males. It is including my mother's friends, so that's why in the 60 or 70, and my my friend, he is 80s.

SPEAKER_01 9:55

I see.

SPEAKER_00 9:57

60% said they have anything that can be called ikigai. The four percent replied not yet. 10% said it's difficult to answer. 77% said they feel their ikigai in their work or daily life. Sixty one percent of the participants said their ikigai would brighten their daily life, and only twenty three percent said not so much. And forty four percent said their ikigai is related to what they like to do. Sixty percent said that it is related to what they are good at, and ten percent said it is related to both.

SPEAKER_01 10:49

I see. What did you think of these results? Were you surprised or did they make sense to you?

SPEAKER_00 10:56

I think it's natural. So 77% of their ikigai in their work or daily life, it's natural, I think, in my from my experience.

SPEAKER_01 11:08

Yes. This is where the the perspective of the West and maybe Japan differs. In the West it's become a very ambitious goal, finding the perfect dream job. But in Japan, it's it's found in already what you do, yeah, in your maybe work, your relationships, uh, your hobbies. So you categorized the responses into personal, family, work, social, and environment, which I think is really helpful.

Real Ikigai Examples From Daily Life

SPEAKER_01 11:46

So do you want to share just a few of the responses for each category?

SPEAKER_00 11:53

So what were some responses for personal Ike Guy personal one be to be recognized by others at work and in my private life? A live performance, music, watching sports, being alive itself to be a healthy mind and to appreciate each day while sharing the feeling of others, to be able to live each day in peace, calligraphy, study the crafts, to be able to meet and support various people while doing what I love to create to enjoy everyday life. Yes, that was nice.

SPEAKER_01 12:46

I think we can relate the idea of watching sports to the World Cup. So right now the World Cup's on. And when you watch the spectators' reaction when when their team scores a goal and everyone jumps up and they're happy, yeah. This is like a moment of expressed icky guy. Ah when they miss the goal and they're excited and disappointed. Of course, when their team loses and they're knocked out, like Japan and Australia, and you see the disappointment on the fans, you really understand, wow, they really love they love this sport, they love this event, and so maybe it is one of their Ikigai. So it's it's interesting when you see Ikigai come alive and you see this aliveness in people and this excitement.

SPEAKER_00 13:42

Yes, for sure.

SPEAKER_01 13:44

What about for family? Ikigai related to family, what were some examples?

SPEAKER_00 13:50

Okay, the family, okay. Spending time with my family, my children's growth, my children's happiness. Making every effort to keep my family happy and doing everything in our power to do so. Uh parenting, spending time with family and friends, the happiness of my family, the happy faces of the people who I interact with and my children, the health of my family, myself, and those around me, watching and support the growth of my many grandchildren. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:38

I've always enjoyed parenting. It's been really enjoyable to parent my son. And now he's a young adult. He doesn't really need parenting anymore. But we kind of have a playful friendship. I can understand, and then it is amazing when your children grow, you know. One day they're just a baby and they They can't walk, they can't talk, and then slowly over time they turn into a little person and then a bigger person. What about you, Kumiko? Do you enjoy parenting?

SPEAKER_00 15:19

It's a difficult question, but I would say yes. But so I understand so Ikiga it related to their family that because we parents see every day my children's growth. So something happiness, something uh difficult or hard things to me, to our parents. But so it's not only doing parents, but we we have the emotion and feelings to to my children. So I really understand how Ikigai is uh related to my family, not only my children, but my parents, my mother and a father and grandfather like that. So it's so precious to have a Ikigai in their families.

SPEAKER_01 16:10

Yeah, it is precious, and I'm I guess one thing I really am I guess I'm sad about is my parents both died um before my my Ikigai business took off. So my parents they will never know I wrote a book or they will never know I'm I'm doing all these things in Japan. And so of course I I wish I could share it with them, um, but I can't. So yeah, family is very important. Uh because you want to share your growth and your you want to celebrate your your wins, and you usually do that with your family first, uh, because family are are usually very supportive. Um and I I also didn't really meet my grandparents, so I've I've never really experienced grandparents. I I met I think I met my father's grandparents once because they lived in the UK and they lived in England. And there are photos of me meeting my grandfather on my mother's side, but I don't remember. Um so I'm quite yeah, quite envious of people who have uh grandparents. Anyway, we should move on. So let's talk about Ikigai related to work. What were some other responses?

SPEAKER_00 17:46

Okay, and ikigai that related to work. To to be able to work at what I love and what I am good at, to have a job at any age, using my creativity in photography, video production to interact and talk with customers, creating something that benefits others and accomplishing meaningful tasks.

SPEAKER_01 18:21

Nice. I I think there needs to be intrinsic motivation at work. So it it must be enjoyable and something you're good at. And there's always a relational aspect, uh communicating with customers or other people. Now we can move on to Ikiga related to social people's social life, life in general, and their environment.

SPEAKER_00 18:53

To entertain people, creating sustainable people, organizations, and a sustainable planet, supporting people and things I love, to find something useful for others and keep trying to improve, to make people happy with what I do, to be needed by others, to be useful to others, being appreciated by others, contributing to others and the world when I make someone smile or when I I am appreciated, helping myself and others live with vitality, to live for the benefit of others, to engage in activities that can be passed on to the next generation, to achieve the best results by doing something together with others, helping those who are struggling or in need, creating a community that continues to grow together. That's nice.

SPEAKER_01 20:13

Yeah, there's a lot of different responses, but many of them seem related to helping others, making a contribution, serving the greater good. Ikigai is very relational, yeah. Very much about relationships and contribution. Yes. Yeah. What's interesting in your previous role, you also designed and led Ikigai workshops. Can you talk about that?

SPEAKER_00 20:43

At my previous company, it was a, as I mentioned, it was a training management training company. One of our business partners was a Dutch company that created a set of coaching

From Ikigai Workshops To Ibasho

SPEAKER_00 20:59

cars called Ikigai cars. I combined these cars with our company's management training to create a workshop. As an Ikigai facilitator, I did around 10 workshops using the program.

SPEAKER_01 21:18

Fantastic.

SPEAKER_00 21:20

That was an interesting opportunity, yes.

SPEAKER_01 21:23

Maybe one day we could co-host an Ikigai workshop.

SPEAKER_00 21:28

Yeah, I hope so. So I will grow. I I learned a lot about Ikigai. We can collaborate in the future.

SPEAKER_01 21:37

Yeah, well, I'll be I've shared with you. I guess this is news, maybe news to my audience. But I'm planning to move back to Japan to live. So uh I hope to do many workshops and retreats and things like that. So we can always work together because you're an experienced coach and Facilitator, and you obviously understand the Japanese language as a native speaker, but also as a teacher and trainer. And at the workshop in Tokyo or at the masterclass, we often touched on another one of my favorite words, which is ebasho. And later I learned from you that it's also a word very important to you, and that you were very happy to hear I think me and Daiki talk about Ibashol. So I'd like to discuss this with you and you think Ibasho is probably the real secret to Japanese people's longevity. And I agree. So do you want to talk about Ibasho and why you think it's important?

SPEAKER_00 23:01

Okay. For me, Ibasho comes from being a part of community. But people come together through shared interest. For example, coffee lovers or anime fans. It's a place where people can share what they love and be themselves, no matter how old they are or what job they have. Here are some examples of Japanese language volunteers. As I mentioned, my friend is 80s, so he was he is a I I met him in Japanese volunteers. Many of them are retired who gave their experiences and knowledges in their volunteer work. Most of them are in their 60s, 70s or 80s, but they are very active and full of energy. They were all kind, considerate, and proactive, running their own communities. I was mainly a member of two Japanese language volunteer groups, and everyone was kind and took good care of me, the youngest member. So most of the volunteers are senior to me, so I am a kind of daughter of them.

SPEAKER_01 24:31

I see.

SPEAKER_00 24:33

Of course, they treated learners the same way. Their kindness and warmth shaped the culture of the community, making a valuable place where not only Japanese people, but all learners could interact with one another.

SPEAKER_01 24:56

Sounds like Ibashow to me. And I I do like this idea, it is a place where where you can be yourself. Which uh reminds me of another Japanese idea or interesting word, Jibunashisa being the person you want to be. And I guess Ibasho gives you that chance. You seem to be a part of many Ibasho, but would you like to share a few?

SPEAKER_00 25:31

Okay. I hold on certification related to vegetables. I was a certification that people who love vegetables and fruit. As a part of that, I served on the steering committee of the Tokyo community for twelve years and subdivided this past May. During the time I started I started two communities, one for mother taking care of children, and another for people interested in other countries and cultures. The members are different in age and gender, but what they had in common was their shared interest. I organized events, had meetings, and built the culture, essentially serving as a community manager. Since I had always worked and facilitator in my professional life, I had extensive experience managing communities, and I believe I was able to create an ideal community that was equal, fair, and enjoyable for all members. As proof of this, we garnered a lot of attention and received many words of gratitude from people. My goal for the future is to build a face-to-face Japanese speaking community. There, I hope to teach Japanese food and a Japanese language. I'm studying various languages so that I can talk with as many people as possible.

SPEAKER_01 27:30

Well, that's very inspiring. And I hope to be part of your face-to-face Japanese-speaking community. So I guess that will be in Tokyo or where will that be?

SPEAKER_00 27:49

But it's easier to meet a lot of people and gather in in Tokyo, I guess. So if I have the place, I can go. So I am finding the places. So I was thinking the online is good, but so after pandemics I found so that face-to-face communication is important than online. So online is easy to communicate with people. So this is an online conversation with you, but so face-to-face is more energetic, and I I can receive more energy and the power from them.

SPEAKER_01 28:31

Yes. I can relate to what you're saying, and this is why I want to come back to Japan. I want to do in-person work like I did for the masterclass. And a few years ago I did a retreat, and that was really enjoyable. I think in-person work and having a physical, social e-bashol really will be important for our future. You're right, we spend so much time online. I mean, this is good being able to talk to you and we can have this conversation. But of course, I'd rather we do something like the masterclass and and or have a conversation live. So the in-person experience really matters, and I think it will be more important as we start to navigate and

Why In-Person Community Still Matters

SPEAKER_01 29:29

adapt to AI. So AI is seems to be like the next big change in our life. I think social media and handheld devices have really impacted our behavior. And so AI is obviously going to maybe take some of our roles away, take some of our jobs away. I know a lot of people use AI for advice or even counseling. But I think eventually people will realize being with people matters.

SPEAKER_00 30:04

Yes, I think so. So as I mentioned, I work in a language school. It is in-person. So I started to I started working in January, the six months past. So at the times when I started working, so I'm so worried about in-person teaching.

SPEAKER_02 30:25

Really?

SPEAKER_00 30:26

But so now so every time I go there, so that Lana gave me some energy and so the big smiles and a few good feedback like that. So I love the atmosphere and the vibes or some kinds of energetic or enthusiastic of Japanese language. So and I gained an how do I say day of working. The four days working at school, two days uh online work, or the blended. It's a good balance to me.

SPEAKER_01 31:02

Well, that's inspiring. I'm not surprised. You're a very uh resourceful, talented, hardworking person. You do so much, and you have two children, so it's very inspiring. That's probably why I reached out to you for who who is this who is this person, Kumikol? She's doing all these amazing things and she's even talking and writing about Ikigai. I know also you've studied positive psychology coaching, and it's something you do. Would you or do you relate Ikigai and Ibashol to positive psychology?

SPEAKER_00 31:44

Within that field of positive psychology, I have long focused on strength and motivation. Within our community, there is an environment where members collaborate voluntarily while revelating their individual strengths. So for example, and the person that people are good at writing materials, the people are good at facilitating, or people knows about an area like that. So this often leads to the personal growth and helps us improve our skills. I used to be uncomfortable speaking in front of others, but the founder of these communities, I found myself giving more presentations. I've since become able to speak in public with the support of those around me in overcoming this challenge, the members watched over my growth. The greatest gift I will receive from the communities is a sense of securities that comes from knowing I'm not alone, that I'm here together with everyone. As a result, I'm now able to speak with you. Too many listeners here. It's amazing.

SPEAKER_01 33:14

It is amazing. You've worked hard, so it does sound they're related. It sounds like you're learning and and growing and speaking is a source of ikigai. And the environment where you learnt these skills sounded like it was a Ibasho. You're also Ibasho Skuti. Ski Dana, you you like to create Ibasho, yeah?

SPEAKER_00 33:44

Yes, so we Japanese uh collaborate together and create something with a lot of people not alone. So I like uh I like be alone. So I I mean reading in the cafe. So my reflection time is important to me, but so I like an enjoyable place. So we talk each other, we share our interests and chatting with them. So I like both. And then that's why so and then I know or I understand the benefit of community or the people gathered and we create uh something than we expect it. So that's why so I I am a creative person, so I'm every time I'm so surprised at uh something, so we create it. So that's why yeah, I like that, the community.

SPEAKER_01 34:45

Yeah, it's interesting because I'm as you know, I'm researching e-bashol now. And you can have physical e-bashol, you can have s obviously social ebachol. But even private, as you said, like going to a cafe and just reading a book and having your me time, your your private time. Yeah. And I think if you have all three, if you have physical ebashow where you feel safe and comfortable, you have social, which is community, and you have private. When you have all three, you have psychological ebasho.

SPEAKER_02 35:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 35:30

Yes, I think so.

SPEAKER_01 35:32

So it's it can be a place, it can be a relationship, it can be solitude and privacy, but it also impacts your psychology and your well-being. I like to call, I mean, actually some researchers call Ibasho the social aspect of Ikigai. But I think it's also a place of Ikigai, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 35:57

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 35:59

So there are so many amazing words in Japanese.

SPEAKER_00 36:04

So I was surprised, so you you know that Ibasho in in Japanese. So what does it say in Ibasho in English?

SPEAKER_01 36:13

Well, we don't have one word. But I guess it could be described your place to be, a place to be, uh, or your place to be. It could be described

Belonging And Japan’s Social Challenges

SPEAKER_01 36:28

as a social niche. So you've talked about some people for me, Basho, around a hobby or an interest. Like your example with the vegetables. You had this community focused on growing and and maybe um sharing or selling vegetables. That's that's kind of like a niche, but it was social, social niche. Japan has these unique words, and we don't have a similar word. We have to kind of explain the concept. So it's it's fascinating.

SPEAKER_00 37:04

Okay, thank you. So I think so Ibasho means and belongings in English, I think. So when I learn a management uh management training, so I uh when I learn uh well-being, so stuff for for well-being is so belongings is needed to raise our happiness. So that's why that yeah, belonging is important for for for people, of course to me. So that's why I like the word belongings.

SPEAKER_01 37:39

Yeah, yeah. So that's correct. So when when I did my research, Ibasho was place to be, but Ibasho Khan is belonging.

SPEAKER_02 37:52

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 37:53

Yeah, Ibasho Khan is belonging. Um but it is a place of belonging, I guess you could say.

unknown 38:01

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 38:01

Even w without people, you could have a feeling of belonging just just at a a cafe where you're um enjoying the time there. But I definitely think it's social. It's very important to have a social Ibasho, and then as you said, you you have belonging, you feel needed. Uh and I think when we live with belonging, we're probably gonna live longer. But Japan's very interesting because it has it has these amazing words like ikigai or ibasho, but when I do my research, I know a lot of people when they search online, Kensaku Surutol, they have like ikai nai or Ibasho nai, yeah, so lack of ikigai, lack of belonging. And then of course Japan has the social problem of hikikomori.

SPEAKER_00 39:03

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 39:04

And kudokushi, so lonely deaths or social withdrawal. And I think all countries have their problems, but Japan has a unique social withdrawal problem. And also these lonely deaths, it's probably a sign these people don't have ebashol. Um so yeah, Japan's fascinating, it has this beautiful rich culture, these unique words, and like any country it has problems. And Japan has the answer to the problem. But maybe because the word is so common people don't realize the value of these amazing cultural concepts and words. So it's it's a very fascinating situation. Um so I I want to go back to Japan and create more eBash Or.

SPEAKER_00 40:04

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 40:05

So maybe we can work together.

SPEAKER_00 40:07

Yes, I hope so.

SPEAKER_01 40:11

So on your LinkedIn profile image, you have the tagline cover your life with Japanese. And through your work, I know you have rediscovered some aspects of Japanese culture and Japanese words. How has this changed your life?

SPEAKER_00 40:34

Japanese culture

Japanese Words That Shape Wellbeing

SPEAKER_00 40:36

is characterized by many traits, including the tendency to avoid direct expression, humility, consideration for others, adherence to discipline, prioritize group action over individual action, and showing respect and consideration for others. I think you know well about Japanese culture. Of course, similar traits can be found in the culture of other countries as well. Through the Japanese language, I have learned a great deal about the humility and consideration for others embedded in its words. Teaching Japanese is not only teaching its structure or vocabulary. It also involves teaching the culture that lies behind the words. I really love how Japanese people's feelings and values are reflected in the Japanese language. People often say that honorifics are difficult, but to me, they have a very beautiful sound. I feel they are truly beautiful way of expressing humility and conveying the nature of one's relationship with others through language. I'd like to enrich learners' lives by helping them improve their Japanese. That's why I describe it as color your life is Japanese. Just like using a color palette to paint the canvas of their life. It's like a poetic.

SPEAKER_01 42:26

It is very poetic, but it's it's true. Japanese has colored my life, the Japanese language. So it is true. Look what I'm doing. My my whole life or my work is from one word. Oh yeah, if you think about it, even just one word has changed my life. One Japanese word connected me to you. It certainly colored my life. And I think you're right, honorifics are interesting. In my research on e-bashol, I've discovered this idea of ohitorisama, like, and sorokatsu, like and so when you when you go to a restaurant even by yourself, the staff will say, Oh, oh-sama, and this very polite way to say, just on your own. And it's gone from hitoribochi to otorisama, like it's okay now to have your private e-basho, yeah, and go to a restaurant by yourself.

SPEAKER_00 43:31

Yeah, yes.

SPEAKER_01 43:33

And so this word ohitorisama is like a nice way to describe that, yeah?

SPEAKER_00 43:38

For sure, yes.

SPEAKER_01 43:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 43:41

Two two or three weeks ago, I went to the west of Japan, and it's the nice four days, and ohitorisama alone, how to say it, one how do I say one one person trip, how to say, without my without my family, only me.

SPEAKER_01 43:58

On your own, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 44:00

Yes. Actually I have a family, but I went there alone. So people were surprised. Oh you went alone. Now some learner asked me, so what your husband thinks about you? You go to the travel alone. So oh it's okay. So we've been we got married for around 18 years. It's okay. So this is my my time, me time. So I value, I value my life and I like to explore. I have to explore some things in my lives. So that's why. And then so when I visited there alone, the people treated me so kind. Everyone talks to me. So I loved that. A conversation happened a lot. So I enjoyed a lot. So I like that and one day well, how do I say one person stay? I stay stay by myself.

SPEAKER_01 45:05

Yeah, just uh travel on your own or a solo trip.

SPEAKER_00 45:09

I saw solo trip. Yeah, I like solo blah blah blah. Solo blah yes. So I received uh precious time, so or four days uh free time.

SPEAKER_01 45:23

Would you relate that to yutori? That's a time on your own?

SPEAKER_00 45:28

Ah, yutori yes. So I receive yutori. How to say in English?

SPEAKER_01 45:36

So this is another unique word. But usually we describe it as space or or margin or room, but it's Yutori is a bit different because it's also a state of well-being, yeah. So it's a state of well-being from having space or free uh freedom or margin. You have more time to yourself. Um so yeah, really good marriage or relationship is where there's utory, and you can have time on your own, and your husband's fine and encouraging, and say, Yeah, yeah, go and have some time on your own. So that's like relationship yutori. Well, that's good. So I agree. Japanese can color your life with all these amazing words.

SPEAKER_00 46:28

Yes, I love Yutori. And I in my trip, so I received a lot of yutori to think deeply, or a lot of times to reflect me at the hotel. So silent time. And uh I can choose wherever I want, I can go wherever I got. So it's it was a yutori to me. But I have yutori. That's interesting.

SPEAKER_01 46:53

Yeah, you have yutori, you have ikigai, you have uh Ibasho. Finally, Kumiko san, what is your ikigai? You seem to have many.

SPEAKER_00 47:13

And my ikigai is to make the people around me smile. This stems from my own experiences of receiving help and seeing smiles from many people. In Japanese, there is a phrase called ongaeshi, which means to return a favor

Her Ikigai And The Practice Of Ongaeshi

SPEAKER_00 47:33

to someone with a heartfelt sense of gratitude. As I mentioned earlier, through teaching Japanese, I've witnessed many moments when people grow and their expressions change. And I've received many thank yous from them. Beyond just learning Japanese, nothing brings me greater joy than seeing people smile because my presence. Learning Japanese is also deeply connected to people's lives. I've met many people who are struggling due to lack of Japanese skills or who had gone through sad experiences. It is precisely these people I want to support through my work. There were many moments when people told me, thank you. I'm so glad I met you. Those are the moments that proved my reason for being icky guy.

SPEAKER_01 48:40

Well, thank you, and I'm also glad I met you, and I'm glad you're here today.

SPEAKER_02 48:47

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 48:50

Yeah, I'm really glad I sent you the LinkedIn messages. You know, the first one several years ago. And then I sent you another message earlier this year, and then we yeah, we met and we've become friends, and now you're on the podcast. Really, thanks to Ikigai, the word and these other Japanese words.

SPEAKER_00 49:16

But Ikigai was connected to each other.

SPEAKER_01 49:19

Yeah, yeah. So I'm very grateful for the Japanese language. So do you teach privately? I don't.

SPEAKER_00 49:31

So actually I belong in belong the two companies. And so I I like a belong belong to the company. Okay, there's some someone talk asked me, so don't you establish your own company? And I'd say, uh no, so I'm interested in the co-teamwork. So I I like to yeah join join a belong in the company and co collaborate together and talk to the co-workers and call how do I say make something, make something and with many people or co-co-workers. So I love a team teamwork. So that's why.

SPEAKER_01 50:16

Teamwork, nice.

SPEAKER_00 50:17

Mm-hmm. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 50:18

Okay, so I was just thinking if people want to reach out to you, maybe they can do that on LinkedIn. Please. I I will share your LinkedIn profile in the show notes.

SPEAKER_00 50:32

Mm-hmm. Okay. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 50:36

It's been wonderful to catch up and talk to you again, Kumiko. It was great to meet you in Tokyo. And I look forward to, yeah,

Teamwork Values And How To Connect

SPEAKER_01 50:47

maybe we can work together, collaborate, do some workshops or something in the future.

SPEAKER_00 50:54

So I'm waiting for you to come to Japan again.

SPEAKER_01 50:58

I'll be back. I'll be back soon, and I'll be living there next year. So we will definitely catch up.

SPEAKER_00 51:05

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 51:06

But yes, very glad I met you. You've you've colored my life with your kindness and friendship. So thank you for joining me today.

SPEAKER_00 51:18

Thank you. I enjoyed a lot. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_01 51:22

My pleasure. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 51:24

Bye. Bye.