Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai

Jennifer Shinkai
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Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai

You’ve probably heard of the Japanese concept of “Ikigai” but are wondering how you can successfully apply it to your life. How do you start living a life of purpose, jumping out of bed, excited to face the day? Join the Tokyo based, British born facilitator and coach, Jennifer Shinkai and her guests to hear real-life stories of how regular people found and integrated their ikigai. Be inspired by how they took their first steps and how their lives have changed. Still don’t know what you want to be when you grow up? Looking for practical tips to find your ikigai? Then this show is for you.

  1. The Ikigai of Redefining Success and Work Life Balance with Cynthia Usui

    FEB 11

    The Ikigai of Redefining Success and Work Life Balance with Cynthia Usui

    In this engaging episode of 'Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai,' host Jennifer Shinkai speaks with the inspiring Cynthia Usui about career breaks, life after 60, redefining her concept of Ikigai, and finding new purpose. Cynthia shares her journey from being a stay-at-home mum to re-entering the workforce, taking on different career roles, and ultimately redefining conventional wisdom around work-life balance and career trajectories. Cynthia is now doing amazing work opening doors for children from struggling families and we hear how mattering to someone is key to her ikigai.  If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway.  In this episode you’ll hear: What happened when Cynthia’s joyful life of actively raising her daughter came to its natural endCynthia’s frustrating experience with the coaching question: What do you love to do?Cynthia’s three question “Life Check Up” Why your career is like the Tokyo Metro and how you can get back on the train after a career breakCynthia’s real talk that many corporations don’t want their workers to hear About Cynthia Born in Manila in 1959, Cynthia arrived in Tokyo in 1980 as a Monbusho Scholar. After graduating from the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, she worked for a trading company and married a Japanese diplomat. She became a mother at 30 and decided to become a stay-at-home mom. As wife of a diplomat, she has lived in five different countries, and when her daughter left for college, she went back to work as cafeteria manager at the International School Bangkok. She returned to Tokyo at age 52 and accepted the only role she could find - junior banquet assistant at the Tokyo American Club. In 2013, she joined the hospitality industry and quickly rose from corporate sales manager at ANA InterContinental Hotel Tokyo to senior manager of Coca-Cola's Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games hospitality team. Cynthia is a passionate advocate for women returning to the workforce, has written several books on the subject, and is a media personality called on to discuss social and political issues. She turned 65 last year and has tasked herself with raising support for children from single-parent households. Connect with Cynthia 薄井シンシア Cynthia Usui | LinkedIn 薄井シンシア / 専業主婦・駐妻→子育て後に就職、転職を重ね、10年で社長→65歳に起業検討 (@UsuiCynthia) / X Instagram 薄井シンシア – Cynthia Usui Connect with Jennifer Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifershinkai/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifershinkaicoach  Website: https://jennifershinkai.com/  Instagram Coaching and Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/ Instagram Artist: https://www.instagram.com/jennifershinkai/ YouTube: a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    54 min
  2. The Ikigai of Reflective Coaching & Supervision, with Elizabeth Okada

    JAN 14

    The Ikigai of Reflective Coaching & Supervision, with Elizabeth Okada

    Welcome back to the Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai podcast! We hope you all had a fabulous holiday season. In this first episode of 2025 I am thrilled to be talking with Elizabeth Okada, renowned coach in her own right, as well as being a sought after coaching supervisor and trainer. Elizabeth joins us to help demystify coaching, supervision and to discuss her most recent development as a retirement coach.  If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway.  In this episode you’ll hear: The difference between Supervision and Mentor CoachingHow supervision can help you enhance your coaching practiceThe importance of curiosity and reflection in your coaching practiceWhat made Elizabeth decide to pursue being a supervisorHow Elizabeth coaches people through the transition into retirement About  Elizabeth: Elizabeth started her career as a teacher and then continued this when she moved to Japan. Elizabeth had the chance to move into training and spent several years in language and intercultural training roles before taking on positions in Talent Management and Leadership Development. Since 2005 Elizabeth has been a coach working with leaders in a variety of industries. She is also a Coach Supervisor and trains coaches.  Most recently Elizabeth has started supporting leaders who are transitioning into retirement so that they can have  a rich and fulfilling post-retirement life.  Connect with Elizabeth: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-okada-04848825 Connect with Jennifer: Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifershinkai/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifershinkaicoach  Website: https://jennifershinkai.com/  Instagram Coaching and Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/ Instagram Artist: https://www.instagram.com/jennifershinkai/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/

    46 min
  3. The Ikigai of “Room in Your Mind” with Misha Yurchenko

    09/17/2024

    The Ikigai of “Room in Your Mind” with Misha Yurchenko

    On the latest episode of the podcast we are discussing burnout and mindfulness with the founder of Tokyo Mindfulness, Misha Yurchenko. Misha has some amazing insights to share with you all about the pattern of burnout he experienced repeatedly in his work life, and how he broke this pattern. Many people can still experience burnout or stress after finding their ikigai, so this conversation is an important reminder that part of ikigai is having room in your mind. Listen to the episode to hear more about how to make this room and break those destructive work patterns! In this episode you’ll hear: Misha’s formula for what suffering is and how to lower it in your lifeAbout Misha’s experience of burnout whilst running a startupHow the quality of the hours you work can affect you more than the quantityThe importance of taking ‘proper’ breaks and holidaysHow Misha made changes in his life to stop the patterns that led to burnout About  Misha: Misha Yurchenko is a Tokyo-based certified meditation teacher with over ten years of meditation experience. He has attended retreats worldwide, practicing a range of techniques. His primary practices today are samatha-vipassana and the Brahmaviharas in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. After experiencing extreme burnout from his venture-funded startup, he retreated to the mountains for a month of meditation. He later founded Tokyo Mindfulness, dedicated to helping others break free from their limitations. Misha combines meditation, breathwork, and nervous system healing in a practical and integrated approach to assist people in letting go of the ego, releasing old habit patterns, and finding inner freedom. He is the author of several books, writes a weekly Substack, and lives in Nerima with his family. Connect with Misha: Website: https://tokyomindfulness.com/ Substack: https://mishayurchenko.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyomindfulnessjapan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/misha-yurchenko-88458565/ Meetup Group: https://www.meetup.com/pro/conscious-living-japan/ Connect with Jennifer Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifershinkai/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifershinkaicoach  Website: https://jennifershinkai.com/  Instagram Coaching and Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/ Instagram Artist: https://www.instagram.com/jennifershinkai/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/

    56 min
  4. The Ikigai of Mottainai & Creativity, with Victoria Close from Biku Designs

    07/30/2024

    The Ikigai of Mottainai & Creativity, with Victoria Close from Biku Designs

    On the latest episode of the podcast our guest is Victoria Close from Bikudesigns, a vintage kimono jewellery brand. The Japanese concept of Mottainai ( もったいない ), which expresses a sadness or regret about wasting or mistreating resources, has become very important to Victoria in both her life and work. It also gave her a word for something she’d felt since she was a young child. In the episode we find out more about Mottainai, about Victoria’s creative work, and insights into showing up authentically and intentionally online as a creative and a business owner. If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway.  In this episode you’ll hear: About the concept of Mottainai and how it manifests in Victoria’s life and workWhat Victoria’s learned about starting her own businessHow Victoria is showing up authentically on YouTubeThe importance of intentionality About the Creative Calm challenge and how you can participate About  Victoria: Victoria Close is the creative force behind Bikudesigns, a vintage kimono jewelry brand. She crafts unique pieces using vintage and antique fabrics and other found objects she personally sources. Driven by the 'mottainai' philosophy, Victoria is dedicated to repurposing forgotten items and keeping them out of landfills. In 2023, Victoria launched ‘Studio Biku’ in Shimokitazawa, a cozy Showa-era studio. Here, she designs her jewelry, runs a small shop featuring 12 international makers based in Japan, conducts creative workshops, and rents out the space to emerging artists and designers for their own classes. A dedicated advocate for creative small businesses, Victoria offers practical, hands-on and online courses, and founded the Overseas Makers Guild, a free Facebook community that supports, connects, and celebrates handmade business owners. She also mentors creative entrepreneurs through her one-on-one programs. Victoria has called Tokyo home for over half her life and lives in Shimokitazawa with her British husband and their two children. Connect with Victoria:
 Website: https://www.bikudesigns.com/ 
 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bikudesigns/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bikudesigns/ 
 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@studio_biku Connect with Jennifer: Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifershinkai/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifershinkaicoach  Website: https://jennifershinkai.com/  Instagram Coaching and Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/ Instagram Artist: https://www.instagram.com/jennifershinkai/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/

    1h 2m
  5. The Expanding Ikigai of Live Theatre in Japan, with Michael Walker

    06/25/2024

    The Expanding Ikigai of Live Theatre in Japan, with Michael Walker

    Welcome back to another episode of Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai. This week I am joined by Michael Walker, Founder and Artistic Director of SheepDog Theatre based in Tokyo, Japan. As a lifelong fan of live theatre I know very well the ikigai of being an audience member, but in this episode Michael shares with us what it's like to be involved in the production side of things. From acting to directing and running his own theatre company, Michael gives us a fascinating glimpse into the magic of theatre production in Japan. If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway.  In this episode you’ll hear: What theatre means to Michael in terms of ikigaiHow Michael got bitten by the theatre bug while visiting EdinburghHow Michael applies lessons learned from sport to live theatreAbout SheepDog Theatre’s beginnings and its current transitionMichael’s advice for people wanting to pursue a seemingly impossible dream Things mentioned in the episode: THE LITTLE FELLOW  By Kate Hamill Directed by Michael Walker Studio Actre, Tokyo July 3-7, 2024 Sheepdog Theatre returns to Studio Actre for its production of Kate Hamill’s wickedly funny play, The Little Fellow. The story is based on the real life memoirs of 19th century courtesan Harriet Wilson, who entertained the most powerful men in England of the time. When the famous Duke of Wellington  breaks a promise that would set her up for life, she seeks out retribution, not just on him, but all the men who’ve crossed her. The play is simultaneously violent and poignant as it explores themes of identity, societal expectations, and personal transformation. About  Michael: Michael graduated from Sydney’s Theatre Nepean drama program before working as a professional actor for nearly a decade. After moving to Japan, he formed Maidenagoya Productions, Chubu’s first independent theatre company. In 2019 he moved to Tokyo and formed Sheepdog Theatre. After a slow start (thanks to the pandemic), Sheepdog Theatre found its momentum in 2023 and is now a fully professional company. When not being creative, Michael enjoys riding his motorcycle through the many beautiful parts of Japan. Connect with Michael: Website: http://sheepdogtheatre.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheepdogtheatre/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheepdogtheatre/ Connect with Jennifer Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifershinkai/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifershinkaicoach  Website: https://jennifershinkai.com/  Instagram Coaching and Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/ Instagram Artist: https://www.instagram.com/jennifershinkai/ YouTube: a...

    51 min
  6. Finding Yoyu & Cultivating Abundance in Your Life, with Marci Kobayashi

    06/11/2024

    Finding Yoyu & Cultivating Abundance in Your Life, with Marci Kobayashi

    Welcome to another episode of the Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai podcast. This week we are talking about yoyu, a Japanese concept conveying one’s capacity to handle or afford something. Author Marci Kobayashi joins us to discuss the concept of yoyu and her upcoming book, "Finding Yoyu: The Japanese Compass for Navigating Overwhelm and Cultivating Abundance in 7 Key Areas of Life."  Listen to the episode to hear more about yoyu and how it links to ikigai! If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway.  In this episode you’ll hear: What Yoyu is and how Marci came to learn about itHow Marci applied the concept of Yoyu to a challenging time in her lifeAbout the importance of proactively taking time for yourselfAbout ‘tiny altars’ and how they make claiming space more manageableHow you can figure out what makes you feel a sense of yoyu About Marci: Marci Kobayashi is a writer, teacher, and business owner in Tokyo. Raised in the U.S., she arrived in Japan as a college student in the early ’90s and has lived there ever since. In 2002, she started a company to provide English-conversation programs and study-abroad advising, which evolved into assisting international organizations and entrepreneurs in improving their global reach online through web design and coaching. Marci also has a dedicated spiritual practice, enjoys studying alternative-healing modalities, cooking a whole-foods flexitarian diet, and exploring Japan. She is the author of the upcoming book, "Finding Yoyu: The Japanese Compass for Navigating Overwhelm and Cultivating Abundance in 7 Key Areas of Life." She's also working on a memoir chronicling the five years she was the primary caregiver for her father-in-law, a WWII Japanese war veteran, as he navigated Alzheimer’s. Connect with Marci: Website: https://marcikobayashi.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarciSKobayashi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcikobayashi/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marci-kobayashi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/marcikobayashi Connect with Jennifer: Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifershinkai/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifershinkaicoach  Website: https://jennifershinkai.com/  Instagram Coaching and Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/ Instagram Artist: https://www.instagram.com/jennifershinkai/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/

    57 min
  7. Obsessive Ikigai & The Healing Power of Self Love, with Elizabeth Hendrick

    05/07/2024

    Obsessive Ikigai & The Healing Power of Self Love, with Elizabeth Hendrick

    This week’s episode contains general discussions of BDSM and torture. Welcome to the latest episode of the Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai podcast. This week we talk to author Elizabeth Hendrick about her book EXODAI, a memoir about her struggles with her sexuality and the story of how she eventually learnt to love herself after a particularly toxic BDSM relationship with a Japanese dominatrix. For over a decade Elizabeth’s ikigai compelled her to write about her own experiences in order to help others who have been ostracised for being part of the LGBTQ+ community, and who have struggled with self acceptance, self love and healing.  If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway.  In this episode you’ll hear: About Elizabeth’s memoir EXODAI and what compelled her to write itHow Elizabeth felt ostracised as a young LGBTQ+ person and struggled to reconcile her sexuality with her Christian beliefsWhat made Elizabeth realise she lacked self love and how she decided to heal herselfHow Elizabeth ended up in a torturous relationship with a Japanese dominatrixAbout the dark side of ikigai and how it can be an obsession or addiction Things mentioned in the episode: FEW Japan June Conference: https://fewjapan.com/css-2024-the-fewture-conference/ Buy the EXODAI book here: https://exodai.co.uk/ About Elizabeth: ELIZABETH HENDRICK published her debut work, EXODAI, in September 2023. She was compelled to write about her struggles with her sexuality and narrate the story of how she eventually learnt to love herself as a lesbian woman, placing particular emphasis on her BDSM relationship with a Japanese dominatrix. Elizabeth believes her story will be of value not just to LGBTQ+ and BDSM/fetish communities, but to all individuals who have been ostracised during their adolescence and whose lack of self-love is sabotaging their adult lives. EXODAI is also an intriguing peek behind the curtain of Tokyo’s exotic and sometimes shocking BDSM underworld. Elizabeth was born and raised in East Anglia. She graduated in mathematics from Durham University in 1994 and began a career in financial services in London. In 2004, she left finance to enter the risky world of entrepreneurial start-ups. During her first project to launch a film magazine, she developed the practice of keeping a diary of events. It was her cathartic response to dealing with the stress of heading up an underfunded start-up. Since then, she has kept records and written memoirs covering all her remarkable life experiences, including being a contestant on a reality TV show. In 2016, Elizabeth retired from the corporate world and moved into part-time business education, specifically to focus on her career as a writer. Over the course of her life, she has lived and worked in London, Paris, Tokyo, and Dubai. She currently works and resides in Tokyo, and she doesn't stop writing! Ultimately, Elizabeth is keen to promote self-awareness in the realm of sexuality and bring solace to those who have been ostracised or who lack self-love and acceptance. Connect with Elizabeth: Website: https://www.exodai.co.uk/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exodai  Instagram: a href="https://www.instagram.com/exodainarrated/"...

    56 min
  8. The Ikigai in Vagabondism, with Tengyo Kura

    04/04/2024

    The Ikigai in Vagabondism, with Tengyo Kura

    Welcome to another episode of season three of the Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai podcast. On the podcast this week I got to sit down with Tengyo Kura, a self professed vagabond. Tengyo has a beautiful outlook on life that has propelled him around the world to connect with many people from different cultures, countries and experiences. Vagabondism is how Tengyo lives his life and is directly connected to his ikigai, and is a way for him to experience true connection to other people. Tengyo has some amazing insights to share with you all that will leave you truly inspired to seek out more true connection in your own life! If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway.  In this episode you’ll hear: How teaching languages to students made Tengyo realise he was a storyteller at heartWhy we can never truly understand each other completely, but how love and respect lead to true connectionWhat vagabondism means to Tengyo & what we can learn from people living a vagabond lifeTengyo’s advice for those interested in experiencing vagabondism for themselves About Tengyo Kura: Tengyo was born in 1972, and studied anthropology at a university in Tokyo. Since 2001, Tengyo has been living as a vagabond (stranger) in various parts of the world. Tengyo taught English at a university in Mongolia, was a language teacher at a law school in Sri Lanka and encountered the Tsunami in 2004. He was a lecturer of Contemporary Japanese Culture at a university college in Norway (2005-2009), and organized the Hiroshima A-bomb exhibition in cooperation with the City of Hiroshima and the Nobel Peace Committee in 2008. He was a Japanese language and cultural teacher at a secondary school in Latvia (2011-2012), and was nominated for the Best Teacher Award in the capital city of Riga in 2011.  Tengyo lived in India and other Asian countries and wrote stories for his storytelling work “Chronicle of Vagabondism” in 2013. He collaborated with Latvian artists for the EU Capital of Culture Commemorative Event in Riga, Latvia in 2014. He lived in several countries in South America and wrote stories for his storytelling work “Chronicle of Vagabondism” from 2014 to 2016. Tengyo also created a storytelling artwork "The Tokyo Vagabond x Ueno" in 2017. Tengyo was a storyteller of an exchange program for TURN, a big cultural project initiated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (2017-2020). He also worked with Cocoroom, an art NPO in the biggest Japanese homelessness community in Osaka City (2020-2022), and was appointed as a chief member of the NPO in 2022. Tengyo resumed activities in Africa in November 2022, and introduced a Japanese concept of social inclusive programs to countries in the southern part of Africa. Tengyo is now carrying out various activities called African Jamboree 2025 that emphasize cultural exchange between Japan and some African nations until 2025. Connect with Tengyo: Website: https://vagabond.link/ Connect with Jennifer: Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifershinkai/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifershinkaicoach  Website: https://jennifershinkai.com/  Instagram Coaching and Podcast: a href="https://www.instagram.com/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    41 min
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You’ve probably heard of the Japanese concept of “Ikigai” but are wondering how you can successfully apply it to your life. How do you start living a life of purpose, jumping out of bed, excited to face the day? Join the Tokyo based, British born facilitator and coach, Jennifer Shinkai and her guests to hear real-life stories of how regular people found and integrated their ikigai. Be inspired by how they took their first steps and how their lives have changed. Still don’t know what you want to be when you grow up? Looking for practical tips to find your ikigai? Then this show is for you.

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