Ikigai for Teens: Finding Your Reason for Being

by Héctor García (Contributor), Francesc Miralles, Russell Calvert (Translator)

A bestselling motivational book based on the Japanese concept of finding happiness in everyday life, now for young readers!

The Japanese people say everybody has an "Ikigai," or a reason to live. Some people have found their Ikigai and are aware of it. Other people have it inside, but have not found it yet. This concept, Ikigai, is one of the secrets for a long, active, and happy life.

Héctor García and Francesc Miralles visited Ogimi, a town on the north of Okinawa in Japan that has the highest longevity in the world. They spent weeks living with the residents of Ogimi and interviewing dozens of the villagers. These people all had lived to be more than a hundred years old, and they were all in great physical (and spiritual) shape. After their trip, Héctor and Francesc wrote a book examining the centennials' keys to an optimistic and vital existence. What do the oldest people in the world eat, what do they work on, how do they connect with others, and-the best-kept secret-how do they find their Ikigai? Ikigai is what gives them satisfaction and happiness, and brings real meaning to their lives.

The result was Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, an international bestseller which has been translated into over 49 languages.

With the book, García and Miralles made it their mission to help its readers find their own Ikigai and discover many keys of Japanese philosophy to a healthy body, mind, and spirit.

They have now adapted their bestselling book for young readers. Young adults can find their Ikigai too!

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Childrens, Personal Development

129 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 20, 2021

About the author

I'm the author of several Japanese culture books: The Magic of Japan, Ikigai the Japanese Secret for a Long and Happy Life, The Book of Ichigo Ichie, Shinrinyoku, The Ikigai Journey and A Geek in Japan.

I LOVE reading and writing.

Autor de los libros sobre cultura japonesa: La Magia de Japón, Ikigai, Ichigo Ichie, Shinrinyoku, Un Geek en Japón.

http://amazon.com/author/hectorgarcia

Reviews

[Maven_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ikigai for Teens: Finding Your Own Reason for Being by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles is a thoughtful, gentle guide to help young readers explore the Japanese concept of ikigai, which refers to a person’s reason for being or what gets them out of bed with purpose in the morning, and apply it to their own lives, choices, friendships, school, potential careers, and personal satisfaction. The book breaks down the core idea of aligning what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you could be paid for into accessible language, examples, writing prompts, and inspirational stories tailored for a teenage audience. It emphasizes self‑discovery, curiosity, resilience, and self‑reflection in a way that feels practical and soothing rather than preachy.

From the moment I opened this book, I felt it encouraging a quiet kind of introspection, like sitting with a wise friend who reminds you that purpose is not a destination but a journey. The chapters walk you gently through identifying strengths, embracing mistakes, and exploring interests without pressure to have life all figured out, which felt deeply reassuring in a world where teens often face intense expectations about success and identity. The writing prompts and real‑world examples from artists and activists to athletes invite reflection, and the tone stays warm and empathetic throughout. I appreciated how it reminds readers that finding meaning does not happen overnight, and that you can learn just as much from the things you do not enjoy as from the things you love.

Looking back, what stayed with me was the book’s patient reminder that purpose is personal and evolving, not a fixed prize to be won. Some parts felt familiar if you’ve read other self‑help books, and the advice sometimes skims broad ideas that might feel less actionable to teens without resources or support, but the heart of the message, to explore your inner compass with kindness and patience resonated with me.

I give Ikigai for Teens 4 out of 5 stars. It made me feel hopeful, grounded, and more curious about what truly matters in life, and I can easily imagine it being a comforting companion for anyone feeling uncertain about their path. While it isn’t a magic formula, it offers gentle, thoughtful guidance that feels both uplifting and reassuring, perfect for the introspective moments that come with growing up.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book just after the adult version by the same authors. This was much better. The other was a list of good things to do in life to have a good life. This was much more about finding your path.

[Nora (Grayson's version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much! It's an easy read. If I have to pick between the adult version and the teen version I'll probably choose this. Lots of examples stated and written wonderfully. Loved every chapter. It didn't feel like reading a self help book. I felt as if I was the person going on an adventure to find my reason for being, just like the characters in this book. Highly recommend.
Ganbarimasu!!!

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, I appreciate a secular book for teens guiding them on how to find their purpose in life. I wish I had this book when I was a struggling teen.

Yes, this is a “teen edition” of a popular adult book that already exists; therefore, my critiques about this edition may be non-existent or “solved” in the “adult edition,” but as they are systemic societal issues, I doubt they are addressed in there as well.

1) I know that the authors have lived in Japan for many years, but it still bugs me that it’s essentially white guys educating 60 countries worth of potential readers on Japanese cultural concept rather than a native. That does not diminish the value of their work, but rather that we need to increase opportunities for minorities in publishing so that they can write their own lived-experiences and culture. I’m white bread so I can’t say if they were offensive or not to Japanese culture for reducing down most references to pop culture, but I digress.

2) The writers frame this book through a painfully abled old cis straight white male perspective. Sure, they mention inspirational people of color throughout, but their lens is painfully limited to middle and upper-middle class teens. No acknowledgement that structural, systemic issues sometimes thwart the “search for meaning” for a majority (yes, a majority) of women, poc, and other minorities (compounded by the more minority groups an individual identifies with). The authors were also anti-technology with their sentiments through The Nightingale story that “virtual reality” is responsible for making youngins’ lives less fulfilling. For a book published in 2021 with the benefit of living through a global pandemic, they grossly undermine the profound benefits and conveniences of technology on modern-day society. Para-social relationships were paramount to weathering the pandemic, something neurodiverse and other marginalized people have known for decades. And although they did mention neurodiverse people like Tony Hawk and Greta Thunberg in their inspirational examples, that’s a low bar considering how famous and “buzzy” their names are, especially when this book was probably getting sanitized.

3) This book is fat-phobic when it lists a key tenant of an ikegai life as “not eating too much food, especially junk food.” For the love of God, they don’t have to be fat positive, but could they at least be body-neutral? Licensed nutritionists know that the key to a good diet is not “avoiding eating to excess” but rather eating a BALANCED diet with lean proteins, unprocessed carbs, fats, and veggies. To minimize excessive weight as being solely from “eating too much—especially junk food” is regressive, ignores the complexity of the obesity crisis even our best doctors and scientists in the world can’t solve, and completely out of place in a book that’s supposed to be about finding your purpose in life. Why does self-actualization, arguably “nourishing your soul,” have to have anything to do with the physical body?

4) The last chapter on finding love was completely unnecessary. Attributing romantic and xual relationships as an integral human experience excludes a currently estimated 1% of the human population that identifies as asexual and/or aromantic. They feel no desire for X or romance and they should not be made to feel sub-human due to society’s obsession with one very particular type of “superior” love. Familial love matters and so does platonic love. And neither romantic love nor xual attraction are “above” these other forms of love.

5) Some of the “inspirations” they chose have been known problematics that the school system still pushes (for some reason). Edison stole experiments from other inventors and conducted horrific experiments, Steve Jobs was the talking head of Apple whereas Wozniak was arguably the brains, and Arnold Schwartzanegar had any number of affairs and had absolutely no relevant experience whatsoever to become a mayor of a town let alone a governor of the most populous state in the US.

6) They reduce success down to “personal responsibility” when we really need to be holding corporations and industry responsible for the worldwide issues THEY have caused, not individuals. When 80% of pollution is done by industry, personal recycling can only account for a maximum of 1/5 of the problem. Corporations have repeatedly used marketers and lawyers to circumvent accountability for their actions to give as many opportunities for loopholes and dodging their ethical responsibility to stop killing our planet and exploiting the workers to increase their bottom line.

They reduced everything down to sanitized, camouflaged chunks of “wisdom” on how truly easy it is to succeed in the world as long as you have the guidance and vision to achieve it—the world is a lot more complex than that, but this could again be pressure from the publishers on excluding nuance in nonfiction books for minors (and/or resulting in fewer localization content censorship jobs).

TLDR: this book is almost every bad “ist” in the book for not acknowledging and challenging the frameworks of our broken society. But so is the American education system.


*This was supposed to be a lighthearted book yet I somehow turned it into a critical theory dissertation with a social justice emphasis. My review is basically ranting at society, but since this book is enforcing those norms to children (like the public education system) I got mad, I guess. I used this book as a proxy for the American education system, oops.

[Rie Hama · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the adult version of the ikigai book a lot so I read this version too, thinking a “for teens” book may have more simple directions.

I think it is a good book for teens , I would like to gift this to my nephew and my child later on when she’s older, but for adults’ reading, this book is a bit “not enough”. The author has some good topics and shares some real person examples, but it’s so short and simple - made me wonder if it is done purposedly to suit teens’ still growing patience? For an adult it was just a bit lacking.

There was a topic about how to make friends. The author start by describing the type of friends. As to “how to make them?” It was… uhh… quite lacking. The one phrase instruction maybe enough for some teens, but come on, if I was a teen who had difficulty making friends and saw that one phrase about how to make friends, I will get angry at the book.

Overall, as general pointers for kids, the book is good. Just don’t expect anything deep.

[Rich E. Vander Klok · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to see if I wanted to add it to my high school classroom library. It would be a better fit for a junior high or freshman classroom. It's too simplified for juniors and seniors. There are parts of it that would make good excerpts for quick reads, and I plan to read the book it's adapted from. Maybe older teens will relate to that book.

[Karen Petersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good, easy to read book for teens who aren't sure about what they want to do when they grow up or even adults who want to evaluate their purpose and future plans. There are prompts to help aid reflection and idea generation.

[Everlunar · Rating 2 out of 5]

The reading level is appropriate for t(w)eenagers on the younger side (12-14), but the advice seems to target an older demographic.

Some pop culture references and real world examples feel outdated but I think that's a consequence of the "relatable" self-help genre, rather than a problem exclusive to this book. The expiration date of relevance grows nearer and nearer as trends are manufactured at an alarming rate, so of course mentions of real celebrities and their experiences fall short of relatability after a few years.

However, the sheer surplus of quotations and examples quickly felt excessive, substanceless. They made the book a somewhat difficult read and I found myself subconsciously skipping over the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. Skipping them won't change your experience of the book. If anything, it improves it, as the reading process becomes less tedious - which I think is a shame. Why bother including inspirational quotes that aren't inspiring?

This book also speaks rather flippantly about every example. It treats an anime protagonist's struggle with their sense of self, and religious/cultural philosophies that date back hundreds of years, with the same level of carelessness. The inability to translate the differing gravity between these examples onto paper feels irresponsible, especially if your target audience is a very impressionable group of young people.

Overall, while García's personal obsession with Japanese culture makes me uncomfortable, I understand the value of these ideas for teenagers. Some of the later activities, such as writing a letter to your future self, seem like they could be motivating and useful. I think this book facilitates some really important realisations about confronting the future rather than cowering away from it, which makes a lot of kids uncomfortable, but is definitely a conversation we need to start having before children become adults.

[Prisha Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

I picked up this book not really knowing what I’d get out of it. I wasn’t clear about what I wanted to become, or even where to start. But by the time I finished reading it, something had shifted. I didn’t walk away with all the answers—but I did walk away with ideas, clarity, and a new way of thinking about my future.

The book talks about ikigai, a Japanese word that means “reason for being.” And honestly, that phrase hit me. It’s not just about choosing a career—it’s about discovering what makes you feel alive, what gives you joy and purpose.

I also liked how the book reminded me of the simple but powerful things—like the importance of good friends, loving your life, and just finding happiness in small things like smiling. It’s written in a clear, relatable way that doesn’t try too hard to sound wise—it just is wise.

This book helped me sort through my thoughts and gave me space to think about who I might be someday. It didn’t tell me what to become, but it gave me the courage to start exploring and dreaming.

If you’re a teen who’s unsure about the future or just wants a little direction, I’d totally recommend Ikigai for Teens. It won’t overwhelm you with advice—it’ll just quietly guide you toward figuring things out for yourself.

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ikigai for Teens: Finding Your Reason for Being by Hector Garcia Puigcerver, Héctor García, Francesc Miralles, Russell Calvert (Translator)- Héctor García and Francesc Miralles visited Ogimi, a town on the north of Okinawa in Japan that has the highest longevity in the world. They spent weeks living with the residents of Ogimi and interviewing dozens of the villagers. These people all had lived to be more than a hundred years old, and they were all in great physical and spiritual shape. After their trip, Héctor and Francesc wrote a book examining the centennials' keys to an optimistic and vital existence. What do the oldest people in the world eat, what do they work on, how do they connect with others, and-the best-kept secret-how do they find their Ikigai? Ikigai is what gives them satisfaction and happiness and brings real meaning to their lives. It is a motivational book for readers of all age groups.

[Ayushman Bhattacharjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book which I needed for such a long time. Ikigai is a broad concept followed by hundreds of millions of people, knowingly or unknowingly, and it has reminded me of "creating" and "actually living" my own life. This book has constantly urged about following your motives, purpose and passion which is very important to create a significant difference in today's world, while it is also true that things must be accepted and done at slow and observing pace. Learning about Ogimi is a big plus in the book, that demonstrates there is more to life than just work. Oh, props for the Namek example for giving me a new perspective to my career and life-decisions. Great book, and if you are another teen like me who needs practical guidance and reminders about life and career, this book should be the first and finest choice. :)

[Deepali Singhal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book feels like a damn HUG! When no one understands you everyone says why you are like this and that, this is what you NEED in your LIFE.
Lately, I have been struggling too much with overthinking about college, academics, career and stuff.. but this book has repeatedly told me that it's okay, and the effort will give a fruit later if not sooner.
I have read Ikigai too but the difference is that this one is full of exemplary explanation, it makes you feel as if someone is telling you a story or how your grandmother would guide you in life.
I still do have those things in the back of my mind but still it has made me much better!! Saying anything more is only repeating things that you hear people saying so my side ends here.

That's all from me ;)

[Karthik · Rating 3 out of 5]

IkiGai = Iki (Life) + Gai (to be worthwhile). This book, titled "Ikigai for Teens" in my opinion is not just a good book for teens but also for adults alike. The book is a quick and simple read while stimulating the thoughts on life's purpose and providing some tips and motivation to pursue it with open mindset.

My kid is pre-teen and with the onset of vacation I wanted him to read some books that would make his time worthwhile. This book was one of the few books of the first batch of books that I had gifted him this vacation. The language is simple enough that he enjoyed reading it quickly and we had meaningful conversations about it making good use of our time together.

[Sonakshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I am past teen age I thought that I can try to read this one to see what I need to do or think differently. This is an amazing reminder of what you wish to do and what you didn’t do early in your life.
I love the examples presented in this from life. It’s written with very simple language and should be a great tool for teens.
I found it a great read.

[Abby Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring book. Picked up for my teen and enjoyed reading (and learning) myself.

“That oracle stuff is just a myth—it’s never worked. Neither the oracle nor anyone else will ever be able to tell you for sure what you excel at. Only you can discover that, with a modicum of experience and a smidgen of observation.”

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this concept: “ikigai.” Finding your purpose in life. Finding your reason for being.

This is not your typical self-help book, and it’s written in accessible language…not just for teens. I love the references to DragonballZ. I would have liked to have read this book as a teenager, maybe even more than I like it now.

Picked this one up at the local library. I give it 4/5 stars.

[Varnit · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is all about finding your life goal and your reason for being. I was gifted this book as a return gift for my cousin's birthday. And I must say the book is brilliantly written. It has opened up many new possibilities for me. I recommend the book for 11 - 13 year old people, within my age group. It is so simply written, there is no way you wouldn't relate. This book truly is a GoodRead.

[Johanna 🍓]

A cute book with some easy exercises that make ya think. My favorite was writing down all the jobs I’m NOT going to have 😅

“Many people take no care of their money till they come nearly to the end of it, and others do just the same with their time.“

[Thana Nitayarerk · Rating 5 out of 5]

เนื้อหาคมชัด ช่วยให้เข้าใจว่าอิคิไกคืออะไร และจะตามหาได้อย่างไร

อิคิไกคือ
- ความหมายของการมีชีวิตอยู่
- ภารกิจที่ทำให้ชีวิตมีความหมาย
- แรงบันดาลใจที่ทำให้เราอยากตื่นขึ้นมาในแต่ละวัน

การตามหาคือต้องลองหลายๆ หนทาง ไม่ต้องกลัวผิดมากเกินไป เพราะถ้าผิดก็สามารถเลือกทางใหม่ได้เสมอ

[Arminzerella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finding/discovering a meaningful (to you) purpose for your life is important and ikigai has much to offer folks who are on that journey. Some teens may appreciate this guide as a starting point. I didn't like the framing (as a second person POV expedition).

[Pankaj · Rating 1 out of 5]

Trash. Below average book. It feels to me that the author is just cashing name of his already famous book. Explained(poorly) random famous quotes from other people without any value addition. Not recommended.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many anecdotes and pop culture references. I was hoping to skim through this for some exercises on how to find your ikigai but I think I have found more in a quick web search. The book isn't bad but the way the material is presented doesn't resonate with me.

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes you on an exhilarating journey of transformation! It’s packed with priceless lessons that will change your perspective and energize your life. Get ready for an adventure that will inspire and empower you!

[عبدالله · Rating 3 out of 5]

هذا الكتاب هو مجرد البداية بالنسبة لك، فكر في الأمر على انه صندوق أدوات مليء بالأدوات التي تساعدك على تشكيل أفكارك وخططك لمساعدتك في العثور على سبب وجودك... الإيكيجاي.

كتاب جميل جدا صراحة فيه إقتباسات رهيبة وتشبيه لاشياء وأمثلة كثيرة من واقع الحياة انصح فيه خفيف وممتع ومفيد.

[Nopadol Rompho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for parents and teens. Do what you love, what you are good at, what you can be paid for, and what the world needs. That's your Ikigai.

[Rohit Mewada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ye book Aap ikigai book read karne ke bass read Kare.

Iss book me ek story ke thorough bataya hai kaise ham apni ikigai Khoj skate hai.

[Meet Samdani · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for teens to improve their vocabulary and to reach their goals

[Larisa Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

It an amazing book just go to your nearest library or book shop and read this I loved it

[Erin Miracle · Rating 5 out of 5]

i never expected anything from a book. But, as a teen it inspired me a lot. I do feel like i felt what the authors were trying to express. Just reading it once changed me a lot.

[kangarhoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

very
very
*thought provoking*.
reread material for sure.