• The word  "IKIGAI"  has a meaning peculiar to Japan，and includes various concepts. The word  "IKIGAI" from Japanese translates into English，it would be similar to self-actualization，meaning of life，purpose in life.
• The purpose of this paper is to organize the research results including definitions and related factors reported in domestic and international "IKIGAI" and "Well-being" research in the eldrtly people, to conceptually define a new definition of "IKIGAI" and considering a future issues and research directions.
• An overview of the literature published until March in 2001 so far and a new definition of  "IKIGAI" is given as follows(Fig.1).
• The  "IKIGAI" is the workings of the mind which integrates the "object (of IKIGAI)" and  “the feeling (of IKIGAI) or feelings accompanying (the object of IKIGAI)". When person asked, "What is your IKIGAI" both arise at the same time.
• " object (of IKIGAI) " includes past contents e.g. experience,memory,role,etc.the present contents e.g.health, hobby, family, friend, role, social etc.and the image of the future e.g.grown family, events ,etc.
• On the other hand，“the feeling (of IKIGAI) or feelings accompanying (the object of IKIGAI)" includes the various feeling of self-realization and willingness, sense of fulfillment in everyday life, motivation to live, sense of existence, sense of control,etc.
• The completion of a simple scale and stylized questions that can measure "IKIGAI" in future research will make it possible to conduct original research that explores not only the fields of medical treatment, health, welfare, and gerontology, but also Japanese culture, and the difference by the place-of-residence region in and outside the country can also be considered. 
• Moreover，since "IKIGAI" deals in the indicator of an individual way of life，so it can be said to be an interdisciplinary research topic in psychology, pedagogy, and philosophy.

• The purpose of this paper is a) to make a comparative study of the existence of ikigai (reason (s) for living) in elderly people and its relevance to their family structure, physiological situation and functional capacity in both rural areas and metropolitan suburban areas, and b) position basic research into the structure of ikigai in the near future, by clarifying several related factors, from which the concept of ikigai may be defined. 
•  The meaning of the word "ikigai" in Japanese is difficult to express exactly, and specialists in gerontology have varying definitions.If ikigai were translated from Japanese into English, it could be "reason (s) for living", "self-actualization", "meaning of life" and/or "purpose in life". In this paper, ikigai is used to mean "feeling of being alive now and/or individual motivation for living".
•  As of October 2000, we studied 1,544 people aged 65 years and over living in town Y of Niigata Prefecture (rural area) , and as of January 2001, we studied 1,002 people in the same age group in town H of Saitama Prefecture (metropolitan suburban area) .
•  The above investigations revealed the following characteristics : —
• •  (a) Regarding the percentages of persons having or not having ikigai, there were no significant differences between the rural area and the metropolitan suburban area. (b) In both areas, the 3 factors of self-rated level of health, intellectual activeness and social roles, were associated with having ikigai.
  •  (c) In the rural area, the family structure was strongly associated with having ikigai, but gender or generation were irrelevant.
  •  (d) In the metropolitan suburban area, the hospitalization experience of men was strongly associated with ikigai.
•   Furthermore, there was a strong correlation with generation. In this regard, while the contents of ikigai are seldom examined in detail, clarification of the structure of ikigai should be worked out in the next stage of the study, using covariance structure analysis. In addition, the development of concrete plans to promote ikigai by municipal organs could be beneficial.
• • Key words : Ikigai, Residential comparison, Family structure, Physiological situations, Functional capacity

• The purpose of this study is to show the structure of the "IKIGAI" with empirical data. The results of covariance structure analysis showed a high enough goodness of fit.
• In the case that local governments and experts are involved in the promotion of "IKIGAI", we show what we can suggest to residents based on the empirical data.
• • Keywords: covariance structural analysis,Structure of IKIGAI, Local government, Experts, Recommendations Rural and fishing areas

• The purpose of this study is to clarify the characteristics of the elderly living in new town areas near large cities by gender and generation from a comprehensive perspective, including physical, psychological, functional capacity and social activities, in relation to the presence or absence of "IKIGAI".
• The significance of this study is that the results of this study can be used in practice by specialists in the field of medical, welfare and health care when "Promoting IKIGAI" projects implemented by each municipality, while the evaluation of the projects of each municipality is taken up.
• • Keywords: logistic regression analysis, urban and suburban area, ikigai, functional capacity

• There is no unified definition of "IKIGAI" among experts, which cannot be sorted out in the Western concept of Quality Of Life.
• In this study, I will discuss "IKIGAI" is  as a concept similar to subjective well-being. 
• The purpose of this study is to identify the factors associated with the existence of "IKIGAI" and the physical and psychological conditons, function capacity and social activities in elderly people living home at rural areas.
•  A total of 1,515 residents (602 males and 913 females) aged 65 years or older living in Y-town, Niigata Prefecture, as of October 1st, 2000, responded to the survey.
• The results of the multiple logistic regression analysis showed the following.
• It was suggested that life-threatening illnesses and experiences of hospitalization and falls may be negatively associated with the existence of a "IKIGAI" in the male preterm elderly. 
• Both generation Female  elders were positively associated with neighborhood and friendships. There was a positive association between "IKIGAI" and leisure activities ,intellectual activity in all generations, regardless of gender. 
• As various local governments implement their projects, it is also desirable to develop a scale that enables easy evaluation of the "IKIGAI" itself, which can quantify the "IKIGAI" and measure its effects, and to develop methods aimed at promoting the "IKIGAI".
• • Keywords: IKIGAI, older people, related factors, gender differences

• The purpose of the present study is to develop a IKIGAI Object Scale and to examine its features. The term "IKIGAI" in Japanese is difficult to express exactly in foreign languages. It includes various concepts. The counterpart of the word "IKIGAI" in English does not exist. 
• However, IKIGAI is similar to self-actualization, meaning of life, purpose in life, subjective well-being, life satisfaction, and morale. 
• Recently a few researchers in Japanese report studies in using original scale of IKIGAI. Participants were 424 people aged 65 years and over who were living at Nakakawane-cho in Shizuoka Prefecture. 
• The main results follow. (a) A 24-item IKIGAI Object Scale was developed. Its reliability and validity was confirmed. (b) Five-cluster of IKIGAI object was discussed. Clusters includes the types which show 1) low scores, 2) low scores in present human relations and/or high family scores, 3) high scores in descendants and past human relations, 4) high scores, and 5) low scores in descents and/or high scores in present and future human relations. 
• This scale has a notable character, not only measuring IKIGAI but also revealing a difference of IKIGAI type.
• keywords：IKIGAI Objects Scale, type of IKIGAI, tense, family generation, Japan original,cluster analysis

• Recently, people can choose a variety of ways of life, it is important for all generations to have a sense of "IKIGAI" as a key word to reevaluate their way of life. There is a possibility that the time will come when the measurement of the effects of interventions in various programs aimed at promoting the elderly "IKIGAI" will be imposed as a demand of the times, and that program evaluation research (Yasuda et al.,2008), including the evaluation of policies, will be required. In the future, there is a need to accumulate empirical research on motivation for living that can be used as material for such local government policies, and also research using a scale that provides effective information for program improvement. Moreover, the development of specific methods to increase "IKIGAI" is also desirable. In addition to quantitative analysis using scales, there may be a need for studies that collect data using interview methods and add qualitative considerations, as well as studies that examine individual cases in aggregate.
•  This study focuses on the "renaissance" of IKIGAI research in that it addresses the fact that IKIGAI research has become active again at the turn of the 21st century.
• The purpose of this paper is to address the trends of 144 research papers on "IKIGAI" reported in the country, mainly in academic journals, between 2000 and 2014 as of October 1st, 2014, and to provide a resource for considering the future challenges of IKIGAI research and the direction of research.
•  Specifically, a systematic review is presented with attention to the definition of IKIGAI, how to measure IKIGAI, characteristics of the study population, survey methods and research design, and research results.
• Each paper is summarized as a table at the end of this paper.
• • Keywords: IKIGAI, review, renaissance

• Focusing on trends in "IKIGAI" research about older people until 2014.
• On the other hand, since the mid-2010s, there seems to be a lot of interest in "ikigai" overseas, so I'm going to give you some data to back it up. The purpose of  this paper is discussing the trends in research on "IKIGAI" and "ikigai"  as of February 2020　(Fig.2 is below)  and future prospects.
• In the process of rapid economic growth, people are focusing less on material wealth and more on mental and spiritual wealth. In addition, we have taken up the issue of women's participation in society in relation to "IKIGAI", and in relation to philosophy, family education and literature.
• KAMIYA Mieko who is psychiatrist was published "On IKIGAI" in 1966. The number of studies on the theme of "IKIGAI" has increased after publication "On IKIGAI" . Not only the elderly, but also adolescents, children, and adults such as working people, were included in the research theme.
• By around 2000, research on the elderly became more prominent in anticipation of the aging society. Studies were conducted focusing on similar concept of "IKIGAI"  those are  "Life satisfaction", "morale scale" and "subjective well-being"  in abroad.
• Even in the 21st century, There is a lot of study on "IKIGAI"  featured older people.
• The future research on "IKIGAI"  will target a variety of objects ( sport, work, disability, philosophy, way of life, self-exploration, etc.) on all generations, not just the elderly.That is so-call returning to the starting point.
• There is harder and harder to feel the psychological distance rather than physical distance beyond nation with networking.
• We will actively disseminate our research results not only in Japan but also overseas and share with the world. 
• I hope that "IKIGAI" will become a word be properly understood around the world.

• Ikigai has been attracting attention as ikigai from overseas since mid-2010. In Japan, ikigai has attracted particular attention since the publication of "On ikigai" written by psychiatrist KAMIYA Mieko in 1966.
•  In the first part, Introducing the research trend from 2015 to 2021, focusing on "ikigai" for the elderly.
•  In the second part, Reanalyzing the research trends of "ikigai(Japanese)" and "ikigai" reported by Hasegawa (2020) by using the methodology, and discuss the trends of research on this word in Japan and abroad from before and after World War II until December 2021.
•  In the third part, presenting thoughts on the possible characteristics of ikigai based on the etymology of the word. One of the etymologies of the word "Ikigai" is "to have support, effect or value for the act of living" from "live and/or life " + "support and/or effect (kai)," and the sense of the word suggests that the meaning of Ikigai is that it is triggered from the inside to the outside.　And this part introduces clinical dohsa-hou(Clinical motor action method) as a approach to support the ikigai with psychotherapy as a direction to emphasize the individuality of ikigai, and discusses it in relation to spiritual care.

▶This paper aims to compile, as a reference document, what is considered to be the current state of “ikigai” research as of October 2023, and to summarize it in a format that can be utilized for future developments in this field.

▶Drawing on Kamiya (1966), the paper categorizes and summarizes existing literature on “ikigai” into two main elements: “ object(s) of ikigai” and “feeling(s) of ikigai.”  This paper also compiles methods and scales used to measure these concepts, including references to important scales mentioned in the cited literature.

▶This paper is reviewed comprehensive papers on “ikigai” research since 2000, organized them around the axes of “object(s) of ikigai” and “feeling(s) of ikigai,” and summarized the diversity of measurement methods and scales developed for “ikigai.”  and pointed out that the “ikigai” Venn diagram, which gained attention overseas from around the mid-2010s, may actually represent “worth in work(hatarakigai)” rather 

▶This paper discusses the history and trends of ikigai research.Building on the history and trends of ikigai research, which has primarily relied on questionnaire surveys, this paper proposes a new framework using interview surveys. 

This paper presents multiple cases from the upcoming book “THIS IS IKIGAI 365” (scheduled for publication in 2025) and discusses the potential contributions of image, audio, and text analysis to ikigai research.