The Ikigai-9 is a brief scale designed to assess an individual’s sense of meaning, purpose, and motivation in life.
It can be used in research, clinical practice, and educational settings.
2. Administration
The scale consists of 9 items.
Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1–5).
Respondents indicate the extent to which each statement applies to them.
The questionnaire can be self-administered or conducted as an interview.
3. Scoring
Total scores are calculated by summing all item responses (range: 9–45).
Higher scores indicate a stronger sense of Ikigai.
Subscale scores can also be calculated for the three components (range: 3–15 each):
Ikigai (Present): Items 1, 4, and 7
Ikigai (Future): Items 2, 5, and 8
Ikigai (Social): Items 3, 6, and 9
Note. For clarity and ease of reporting, abbreviated subscale labels (Ikigai [Present], Ikigai [Future], and Ikigai [Social]) are used on this website, as the original factor names are relatively long and correspond to full conceptual descriptions.
4. Item List and Translation Note
Item List (English Translation)
The Ikigai-9 consists of the following nine items:
1. I often feel that I am happy.
2. I would like to learn something new or start something.
3. I feel that I am contributing to someone or the society.
4. I have room in my mind.
5. I am interested in many things.
6. I think that my existence is needed by something or someone.
7. My life is mentally rich and fulfilled.
8. I would like to develop myself.
9. I believe that I have some impact on someone.
Item wording is based on the validated English version (Fido et al., 2020).
Translation Note
The wording of Ikigai-9 items requires careful consideration of cultural and conceptual nuances inherent in the original Japanese concept of Ikigai.
Some expressions in existing translations (e.g., “room in my mind,” “mentally rich,” and “impact on someone”) may not fully capture the meanings of culturally embedded terms such as “yutori” and “yutaka.”
In contrast, translation approaches that prioritize conceptual equivalence—rather than direct linguistic correspondence—may better preserve the intended meaning of the items. For example, in the German validation study (Hajek et al., 2024), translation was conducted with input from the original developers, and the three-factor structure of the Ikigai-9 was successfully replicated.
These findings suggest that translation quality may influence the factor structure and psychometric properties of the scale.
Researchers are strongly encouraged to carefully consider translation strategies and to consult with the original developers when adapting the Ikigai-9 to different languages and cultural contexts.
5. Interpretation
The Ikigai-9 provides an overall indicator of perceived meaning in life.
Higher scores reflect a more positive sense of Ikigai.
The scale is particularly useful for assessing changes over time and group-level trends.
Small changes (±1 point) may reflect measurement error and should be interpreted with caution.
Interpretation should consider individual, cultural, and contextual factors.
6. Notes for Use
The Ikigai-9 is a subjective measure and is not intended for strict individual comparisons.
It is most appropriately used in research and evaluation contexts.
Usage Policy
Use of the Ikigai-9 scale for academic research, clinical practice, and educational purposes is permitted without prior permission, provided that appropriate citation of the original publication is included.
The scale should not be altered without permission.
For commercial use or modification of the scale, please contact the authors in advance.
For proper use, please ensure appropriate citation of the original publication.