Marcelo Segura answers “I have to wonder about the merit of the...”

Andrea asked this question about Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life:

I have to wonder about the merit of the book that somehow ties being Japanese to being happy, and cites "always being busy" as the key to longevity and bliss. I hope the author knows that Japanese culture is the only one (at least to my limited knowledge) that has a word for death from overworking, and has some of the highest suicide rates from stress and impossible performance standards. How is this addressed?

Marcelo Segura I also started to think about these points you raise as I went through the book. It is a strange contrast since these facts about workaholic Japanese …moreI also started to think about these points you raise as I went through the book. It is a strange contrast since these facts about workaholic Japanese life oppose the fact that they do have long living populations. Perhaps it is all less "Zeny" and just down to economics , after all the suicide workaholics are people in working age, rather young, while the "ikigai masters" seem to be past their years in offices or under oppressive bosses. Kinda the baby boomers vs millenials situation we see nowadays although with longer age span. (less)

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