Iki Iki: When Purpose Becomes Visible

What Japan’s longevity hotspots taught me about individuality, vitality and relevance of being iki-iki.

My article, “The Nail That Sticks Out Gets Hammered Down?,” sparked far more discussion than I expected.

Some readers agreed wholeheartedly that individuality is alive and well in Japan. Others insisted the famous proverb still perfectly describes life here, particularly in the corporate world. Some shared deeply personal stories of feeling like a nail hammered down. One entrepreneur told me he never stopped being the nail; he learned to camouflage himself.

Then there was one response that completely baffled me. It simply said: “UP FFS.”

Assuming it was either a typo or perhaps colorful criticism, I looked it up. Apparently, it means, “Upvote this, for f*’s sake!” I was bracing myself for searing criticism, so I was surprised that the commenter thought the conversation deserved a wider audience.

Whether people agreed or disagreed almost became secondary. What fascinated me was the discussion itself, because it forced me to think more carefully about what I am observing as I spend time in Japan’s longevity hotspots. My point was never that Japan doesn’t value conformity in some settings. Clearly, it does. My point was that wherever I have found the art of community still being practiced well, I have also found something else. Characters. People who remain wonderfully, unapologetically themselves.

That observation eventually led me to discover a Japanese word I had barely noticed before.

Iki-iki.

Unlike ikigai, which describes an inner sense of purpose, iki-iki describes something visible. It is the person who seems vibrantly alive, animated, expressive, engaged and fully themselves.

The more I reflected on it, the more I began to wonder whether healthy communities don’t merely tolerate individuality; they depend upon it. Perhaps that’s why so many of the older people who left the deepest impression on me were not those who blended into the background, but those whose unique gifts were recognized, appreciated, and woven into the life of their community.

That doesn’t mean everyone needs to become highly visible or extroverted. Many people live deeply purposeful lives with quiet contentment. But communities flourish when there is room for the storyteller, the craftsperson, the organizer, the quiet mentor, and the delightful eccentric alongside everyone else.

Purpose is indeed a vital factor in aging well, and it becomes especially powerful when it is visible.

If you want to explore this idea in more depth, including the relationship among ikigai, genki, and iki-iki, and why I believe individuality is an overlooked ingredient in healthy longevity in Japan, please go to the Japan Solo Substack called Defying the Red Zone. There are insights for organizations, insurers, community leaders, and Individuals too.

As always, thank you for traveling with me as I continue to listen, learn, and share what Japan’s oldest generation still has to teach us.

https://japansolo.substack.com/p/iki-iki-when-purpose-becomes-visible

About the Author

Lowell Sheppard is a Canadian researcher, author, corporate advisor and keynote speaker who has lived in Japan for nearly three decades. He is the Founder of Never Too Late Academy, Special Advisor to the International Academic Forum (IAFOR), and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

He has traveled through Japan's longevity hotspots, exploring why some communities help people not only live longer, but also continue to flourish.

His work combines field observation, interviews, and emerging research to examine healthy aging, the art of community, and what he calls character diversity, the unique gifts that enable individuals and communities to thrive together. Through his writing, speaking and advisory work, he seeks to translate these lessons into practical insights for individuals, organizations and policymakers.

He is the author of ten books, including the forthcoming Longevity and the Art of Community: Lessons from Japan.