The Samurai Way: Mastering Business & Life with Samurai Wisdom

Lori Tsugawa
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  • PHILOSOPHY
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Discover the timeless wisdom of Japan to live with purpose, resilience, and courage. Hosted by Lori Tsugawa, this podcast explores the powerful principles of Ikigai, Bushido, and Ganbaru — guiding you to unlock your inner warrior, embrace life's challenges, and step into your true purpose. Join us as we share inspiring stories, practical insights, and ancient philosophies to help you live The Samurai Way

  1. 3D AGO

    Japanese Wisdom for Modern Life | Minako Horaguchi on Ikigai and Kokoro

    In this episode of The Samurai Way, I welcome Minako Horaguchi, an Ikigai based facilitator, coach, and founder who creates reflective spaces for leaders to pause, reconnect, and move forward with meaning and intention. Born and raised in Japan, Minako brings a deep cultural understanding of Ikigai and Kokoro and bridges Japanese wisdom with modern psychology and leadership development. Our conversation explores her personal journey from growing up in Takayama, Japan, to becoming an educator, immigrant, mother, and coach who rediscovered her own Ikigai through life transitions. Together, we discuss: • What Ikigai truly means beyond the popular Venn diagram • How Ikigai is felt as energy and aliveness in the body • Why many people naturally live their Ikigai in childhood before it gets suppressed • The meaning of Genki as origin of energy and vitality • How Kokoro integrates heart, mind, and spirit into one unified concept • Why alignment between who you are and who you are becoming is essential for well being Minako also shares how reconnecting with her roots and returning to Japan deepened her understanding of purpose and helped her upgrade her way of living and leading. Her work supports leaders in aligning external success with internal clarity through reflection, awareness, and intentional growth. This episode is about remembering that your resources already exist within your Kokoro. It is about reconnecting to your energy, honoring your experience, and living with purpose across every season of life. If you are a leader, parent, or someone navigating change and searching for deeper alignment, this conversation will encourage you to trust the wisdom already inside you. Connect with Minako Horaguchi Website: Myikigai.me LinkedIn: Minako Horaguchi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    30 min

  2. FEB 24

    Embracing the Cracks: Wabi Sabi, Kintsugi, and Growth with John Pagano

    In this episode of The Samurai Way, I welcome John Pagano, an innovative educator, lifelong maker, and Director of the Design and Engineering Center at a K to 8 independent school in Southern California. A father of seven and a passionate advocate for experiential learning, John believes deeply that failure is not something to avoid, but something fundamental to growth. Our conversation weaves together Japanese philosophy and modern education in a way that is both practical and inspiring. Together, we explore: • How Wabi Sabi teaches students to embrace imperfection rather than chase unattainable perfection • Why failure is fundamental to creativity, confidence, and real learning • The art of Kintsugi and how repairing what is broken can make us stronger and more beautiful • How building instruments from recycled materials becomes a living lesson in resilience and iteration • Why impermanence and risk taking are essential in both the classroom and in life John also shares his personal journey through cancer and how that season reshaped his perspective on gratitude, strength, and what truly matters. His story embodies the spirit of Kintsugi, showing that the cracks in our lives are not weaknesses but places where light enters. This episode is about more than education. It is about courage. It is about embracing the messy middle. It is about choosing growth over perfection. If you are a parent, educator, leader, or someone walking through a challenging season, I believe this conversation will encourage you to see your own cracks not as flaws, but as part of your strength. Connect with John Pagano https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnlpagano/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    28 min

  3. FEB 20

    From Midlife to Meaning: The Wisdom of Ikigai and Shukatsu with Jeff Singal

    In this episode of The Samurai Way, I welcome Jeff Singal, a Japan based midlife wisdom guide who has been living in Japan for nearly thirty years. Originally from Boston, Jeff bridges Eastern philosophy and Western reinvention, and our conversation is both reflective and practical. We explore how Japanese wisdom shaped his life during seasons of deep transition, including personal loss, midlife change, and the challenges of COVID. Together, we dive into: • What Shukatsu really means and how it is not about preparing for death but about living fully now• Why Ikigai is not a Venn diagram and how starting small can transform your daily life• How understanding our roles as parent, partner, mentor, and leader brings clarity and direction• The concept of Ma and creating intentional space in a noisy world• How Japanese philosophy can guide anyone through life transitions, no matter where they live This episode is a meaningful blend of East and West, ancient wisdom and modern reinvention. If you are navigating midlife, seeking clarity, or wanting to live with deeper intention and fewer regrets, I believe this conversation will speak to you. Connect with Jeff Singal https://jeffsingal.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-singal-b33751/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    33 min

  4. FEB 11

    From Metalwork to Mentorship: Nibu Thomas on Purpose in Action

    In this episode of The Samurai Way, I had the honor of sitting down with Nibu Thomas, a writer, speaker, mentor, and lifelong student of purposeful living whose journey spans manufacturing, technology, personal development, and social impact. Our conversation became much more than a discussion about careers. We explored Ikigai as something built through action, awareness, and paying attention to what life is teaching you. Nibu shared how starting on the factory floor at Bosch shaped his discipline, humility, and deep respect for process, learning Japanese operational principles like 5S and Poka Yoke that continue to influence how he thinks and works today. What inspired me most was how Nibu transitioned from precision engineering into the IT and technology world, and eventually into writing, speaking, and mentoring others about purpose. Today, he is also working with underprivileged youth in India, helping them develop coding skills, confidence, and opportunities for a better future. His story reflects the Samurai values I teach through Ikigai, Ganbaru, and the Code of Bushido, showing that purpose is not something we stumble upon. It is something we build through consistent action. In this episode, we talk about: • Discovering Ikigai through paying attention, taking action, and listening to what people praise you for • Career evolution from manufacturing and IT into writing, speaking, and purpose driven personal development • Creating meaning through mentorship, social impact, and Japanese principles like 5S and Poka Yoke This conversation is an invitation to reflect on your own journey. Are you paying attention to what people praise you for? Are you taking action toward the life you truly want to live? Nibu’s story reminds us that meaning is created step by step, choice by choice. Listen to this episode and subscribe to The Samurai Way Podcast so you never miss a conversation that brings Ikigai, Ganbaru, and the Code of Bushido into modern life. Please listen, follow, and share with someone who is searching for deeper purpose. Connect with Nibu Thomas https://www.linkedin.com/in/nibu-thomas/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    30 min

  5. FEB 4

    No Reinvention Required : Ikigai, Dignity, and Earning After 55 with Jeanne Bellew

    What happens to purpose after 50? In this episode of The Samurai Way, I sit down with Jeanne Bellew, teacher, mentor, and coach who works with people 50 plus who want to continue earning, stay relevant, and remain deeply engaged as they age. Jeanne shares her powerful personal journey of leaving the United States in her late 50's, selling everything, and moving abroad with her husband, two dogs, and a laptop. First to Costa Rica and now to Spain, what began as a practical need to earn income legally overseas became a life grounded in Ikigai, contribution, and freedom. Together, Jeanne and I explore how Ikigai is not something you achieve, but a practice that evolves throughout your life. They discuss why many people in their 50s, 60s, and beyond already have everything they need, yet cannot see it clearly after decades defined by job titles and roles. Jeanne explains how unbundling skills allows people to recognize what they already know, enjoy, and do well, and offer those skills online to clients who value and pay for them. This conversation also dives into healthy longevity, dignity, and why earning and contributing later in life is not about hustle, side gigs, or reinvention, but about self respect, wisdom, and continued purpose. If you are navigating life after 50, questioning what is next, feeling the weight of ageism, or wondering how to stay engaged without burning out, this episode offers reassurance, clarity, and real options. Because there is always a way. Connect with Jeanne Bellew  LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jeannebellew/  Websitehttps://duffelsanddogs.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    31 min

  6. JAN 28

    FORGED BY PURPOSE: Bushido, Ikigai, and the Tuskegee Airmen Legacy

    In this episode of The Samurai Way, I had the honor of sitting down with Emille Bryant, founder of Go Ikigai LLC, military leader, author, and lifelong student of purpose driven living. Our conversation flowed naturally into something deeper than a discussion about careers or success. We explored Ikigai as a way of life, not a diagram, not a job title, but a guiding force that shapes how we live, lead, and serve. Emille shared how his years in the US Air Force, his time living in Japan, and his immersion in Japanese culture influenced his understanding of discipline, service, and passionate purpose. What stood out to me most was Emille’s clarity around Ikigai. He explains it as something we discover, recover, or uncover throughout our lives, especially when we pause long enough to reflect on our most intense experiences and the moments that shaped us. This perspective aligns deeply with the Samurai values of Bushido that I teach and live by. In this episode, we talk about: Why Ikigai is not a destination but a way of living How military leadership and Bushido share common values of honor, courage, and service What it means to build your life around purpose instead of status or money Why it is never too late to begin living your Ikigai How time, energy, attention, and money reveal what truly matters This conversation is an invitation to look inward and ask an honest question. Am I living in alignment with my purpose, or am I living on autopilot? If you are not leaping out of bed in the morning, this episode may help you understand why and what to do next. Connect with Emille Bryant Author of Start With A Sparkle, Second Edition www.startwithasparkle.com Including the Start With A Sparkle Workbook Companion (2022) Co writer of the play HELA ADADEVOH: Return of the Goddess (2022) Creator of the online course Awaken to Brazen Creativity www.brazencreativity.com LinkedInwww.linkedin.com/in/emillebryant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    44 min

  7. JAN 21

    Ikigai and the Samurai Way Purpose Driven Leadership with Sarthak Mittal

    What happens when legacy collapses and purpose takes its place? In this powerful episode of The Samurai Way, Sarthak Mittal, multinational CEO, global branding strategist, TEDx speaker, and founder of Mittal Alliance, with operations across India, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Sarthak shares his deeply personal journey of inheriting a once great family legacy that had fallen to ashes, and how discovering his Ikigai helped him rebuild not just a business, but a mission driven life. Inspired by his great grandfather’s story and his mother’s passion for art, Sarthak realized his calling was not only helping people find their passion, but turning that passion into a profession. This conversation explores resilience through failure, rebuilding during COVID, youth empowerment, and why true leadership is never about “me” but about service, teamwork, and contribution. Sarthak also breaks down his proprietary Five Pillar Branding Framework, aligning branding with Japanese principles such as Bushido, Kaizen, Ikigai, and Ganbaru. You will hear insights on: Rebuilding legacy after collapse Finding Ikigai through service and contribution Youth empowerment and leadership development The power of consistency over luck Why branding is about trust, emotion, and integrity How ancient wisdom applies to modern business This episode is a reminder that success is built through purpose, discipline, and never giving up, no matter how long the path may take. Connect with Sarthak Mittal https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceosarthakmittal/?originalSubdomain=inhttps://ceosarthak.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    34 min

  8. JAN 14

    What Ikigai Really Means | Japanese Wisdom with Nicholas Kemp

    What if everything you thought you knew about Ikigai was incomplete? In this powerful Episode 45 of The Samurai Way, Lori Tsugawa sits down with Nicholas Kemp, speaker, author, Japanologist, and founder of the Ikigai Tribe, to explore the true Japanese meaning of Ikigai beyond the popular Venn diagram. Nicholas shares his personal journey from Australia to Japan, first visiting at age five in 1977, later living and working there, marrying a Japanese woman, and building a life deeply connected to Japanese culture. Long before Ikigai became a global trend, Nick encountered the word in Japan and began a decades long exploration of what it truly means. Together, Lori and Nick unpack: Ikigai Kan – why Ikigai is not something you find, but something you feel Yutori – the Japanese concept of mental and emotional space in a world of burnout Purpose in Japanese culture and what it means to truly use your life with intention Why modern Western interpretations of Ikigai miss its emotional and relational depth The role of reflection, journaling, and gratitude in cultivating a life worth living Japanese craftsmanship, apprenticeships, and the Samurai way of learning Identity, heritage, resilience, and honoring those who came before us This episode is a deep, reflective conversation about meaning, culture, purpose, and what truly matters. If you are seeking clarity, depth, and a more authentic understanding of Ikigai rooted in Japanese wisdom, this episode is for you. Work with Nick and become a Certified Ikigai Tribe CoachGet his book and learn more about his work: https://ikigaitribe.com/ Connect with Nicholas Kemp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    44 min
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About

Discover the timeless wisdom of Japan to live with purpose, resilience, and courage. Hosted by Lori Tsugawa, this podcast explores the powerful principles of Ikigai, Bushido, and Ganbaru — guiding you to unlock your inner warrior, embrace life's challenges, and step into your true purpose. Join us as we share inspiring stories, practical insights, and ancient philosophies to help you live The Samurai Way

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