Conceptual Background & Scale Development

This page provides an English summary of the original Japanese studies on the concept of Ikigai and the development of the Ikigai-9 scale.

It is intended to help international researchers understand the theoretical background and measurement framework of Ikigai.

Background

The concept of ikigai—often translated as “meaning in life” or “that which makes life worth living”—has attracted increasing attention.

However, in empirical research, ikigai has often been treated as equivalent to subjective well-being (SWB), without sufficient examination of its distinct characteristics.

To address this issue, Tadanori Imai and colleagues conducted a study to clarify the psychological structure of ikigai and its relationship with SWB among older adults in Japan.

Study Objective

The study aimed to:

• Identify the underlying structure of ikigai

• Examine its relationship with subjective well-being

• Clarify whether ikigai can be distinguished from SWB

Key Findings

Multicomponent Structure of Ikigai

The results supported a structure consisting of multiple components, indicating that ikigai is not a unitary construct.

Conceptual Characteristics

The findings suggest that ikigai includes:

• aspects related to current life evaluation

• orientation toward the future

• connections with others and society

Overlap and Distinction from Subjective Well-Being

While ikigai shares certain features with SWB—particularly in reflecting positive evaluations of one’s current life—it cannot be reduced to SWB.

Core Conceptual Differences

(1) Temporal Orientation

SWB: Primarily focused on present satisfaction and affect

Ikigai: Includes a future-oriented perspective, encompassing goals, purpose, and direction

(2) Social Embeddedness

SWB: Largely intrapersonal

Ikigai: Inherently relational, involving connections to others and society

Conclusion

The study suggests that ikigai is a psychological construct that cannot be fully explained by subjective well-being alone.

Theoretical Implications

Based on these findings, ikigai can be conceptualized as:

A multidimensional construct integrating personal meaning, future orientation, and social connectedness.

Contribution of the Study

TThis study has theoretical significance in that it clarified the structure of ikigai and its relationship with subjective well-being.

It provides a conceptual basis for subsequent research on ikigai, including the development of measurement instruments.

Reference

Imai, T., Osada, H., & Nishimura, Y. (2009). 

The structure of the ikigai concept for retirees over 60 years old: The difference between ikigai and subjective well-being. 

Japanese Journal of Gerontology, 31(3), 366–377. 

https://doi.org/10.34393/rousha.31.3_366 (in Japanese)

Background

Following earlier work clarifying the conceptual structure of ikigai, a key issue remained in empirical research: the lack of a brief and psychometrically sound instrument for its measurement.

To address this, Tadanori Imai and colleagues developed the Ikigai-9, a concise scale designed to assess ikigai in a structured and measurable form.

Study Objective

The study aimed to:

• Develop a brief and practical scale for measuring ikigai

• Examine its reliability and validity

• Evaluate its applicability in epidemiological and community-based research

Methods

Participants

Community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older (n = 428; mean age = 65.4 years) participated in the study.

Measures and Analyses

The study examined:

• Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha)

• Concurrent validity using the SF-36v2

• Factorial validity through factor analysis

• Distribution of scores

Structure of the Ikigai-9

The Ikigai-9 consists of nine items capturing multiple dimensions of ikigai, including positive feelings about life, motivation and curiosity, and a sense of contribution to others or society.

Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale, allowing efficient use in both research and applied settings.

Conclusion

The Ikigai-9 is a reliable, valid, and practical instrument for assessing ikigai.

It provides a basis for empirical research beyond conceptual discussion.

Contribution of the Study

This study has methodological significance in that it developed a brief scale for measuring ikigai and confirmed its reliability and validity.

The scale may also be applicable in community and epidemiological research, and may contribute to future studies across diverse populations and contexts.

Reference

Imai, T., Osada, H., & Nishimura, Y. (2012). 

The reliability and validity of a new scale for measuring the concept of ikigai (Ikigai-9).

Japanese Journal of Public Health, 59(7), 433–439. 

https://doi.org/10.11236/jph.59.7_433 (in Japanese)

Taken together, the conceptual and measurement studies of ikigai suggest several implications for understanding and studying this construct.

First, ikigai consists of multiple related components, indicating that it should not be treated as a unitary construct.

Second, although ikigai is related to subjective well-being (SWB), it cannot be fully explained by SWB alone, suggesting that it captures additional aspects of psychological experience.

Third, the findings indicate that ikigai includes aspects related to present life evaluation, future orientation, and connections with others and society.

These characteristics suggest that ikigai should be interpreted as a construct reflecting multiple dimensions of experience, rather than a single indicator of well-being.

Finally, the development of the Ikigai-9 demonstrates that ikigai can be assessed in a measurable form, enabling empirical investigation across different research contexts.

When using the Ikigai-9 in international contexts, several considerations should be noted.

Factor Structure and Interpretation

Some studies conducted in different contexts have reported a single-factor structure of the Ikigai-9.

While such findings may reflect characteristics of specific samples or analytical approaches, they may also be influenced by differences in language and interpretation.

The concept of ikigai includes multiple related aspects, such as present life evaluation, future orientation, and social connectedness.

These aspects may be interpreted differently across cultural and linguistic contexts.

Researchers are therefore encouraged to:

• examine factor structure carefully within each sample

• interpret results in light of the original conceptual framework

• consider the potential influence of linguistic and cultural factors

Response Scale and Linguistic Equivalence

The Ikigai-9 uses a 5-point Likert-type response scale with verbal anchors.

In the original Japanese version, these response options were selected based on psycholinguistic considerations to approximate equal intervals between categories.

However, this property may not be preserved automatically in translated versions.

Differences in the interpretation of verbal expressions (e.g., “very,” “somewhat,” “not much”) may affect:

• the spacing between response categories

• the distribution of responses

• comparability across studies

Researchers are therefore encouraged to:

• examine the equivalence of translated response options

• consider linguistic differences in the interpretation of intensity

• conduct pilot testing where possible

In some contexts, it may be appropriate to use quantitative indicators (e.g., percentage ranges) to support comparability.

Distinction from the “Ikigai Venn Diagram”

In international contexts, ikigai is often associated with a widely circulated Venn diagram representing the intersection of:

• what you love

• what you are good at

• what the world needs

• what you can be paid for

Its intuitive visual structure has contributed to its widespread use, but this has also led to conceptual confusion.

While this diagram may be useful as a heuristic framework for thinking about career or life direction, it differs from the concept of ikigai examined in empirical research.

The ikigai construct studied in the original literature:

• is grounded in psychological and social experience

• includes meaning derived from everyday life

• emphasizes relational and contextual aspects

• does not require the alignment of multiple external conditions

Researchers are therefore encouraged to distinguish between these perspectives and avoid conflating them.

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