Ikigai With Jennifer Shinkai podcast

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The Ikigai of The Sento Mindset: Embracing Vulnerability and Transformation with Katheryn Gronauer 54:43

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Join Jennifer as she delves into an enriching conversation with Katheryn Gronauer, a dynamic coach and facilitator with expertise in leadership, cross-cultural transition, and wellness. There are fascinating parallels between business or life transitions and the traditional Japanese “sento” or public bath experience. Whether navigating a career shift, exploring new ventures, or simply seeking inspiration for personal growth, this episode offers a wealth of wisdom on embracing change, “dropping the towel” to be more authentic and finding more alignment in your work and life. Don't miss the valuable lessons on transparency, resilience, and the profound impact of incremental progress. 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: Katheryn’s first experience with feeling out of alignment with her environment Learning to be an entrepreneur in her own way The Sento Mindset as a metaphor for transformations The question: Are you transitioning or transforming? About Katheryn Katheryn Gronauer is a coach with expertise in leadership, cross-cultural transition, and wellness. She is a graduate of Sophia University with a degree in International Business & Culture, a certified coach through both the Center for Executive Coaching (International Coaching Federation Accredited) and Institute of Integrative Nutrition, and a certified ATD Trainer & Change Management Facilitator. Beyond coaching and training, Katheryn is a Speaker and Writer. She has spoken at Tedx on The Sento Mindset, the US Embassy, Toyo University, Roppongi Cooperative, and more. She has written for JapanToday, Savvy, Women’s Health, HuffPost, and more, as well as authored the book Confessions of a Yo-yo Dieter on her experience of losing 40 pounds with Western and Eastern health concepts. Katheryn is originally from Florida and currently lives with her family in Tokyo. Connect with Katheryn www.katheryngronauer.com www.thrivetokyo.com lu.ma/thrive-tokyo www.linkedin.com/in/katheryngronauer www.instagram.com/katheryngronauer 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/…

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The Ikigai of Redefining Success and Work Life Balance with Cynthia Usui 54:04

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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 end Cynthia’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 break Cynthia’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: https://www.youtube.com/c/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/…

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The Ikigai of Reflective Coaching & Supervision, with Elizabeth Okada 45:41

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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 Coaching How supervision can help you enhance your coaching practice The importance of curiosity and reflection in your coaching practice What made Elizabeth decide to pursue being a supervisor How 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/…

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The Ikigai of “Room in Your Mind” with Misha Yurchenko 55:58

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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 life About Misha’s experience of burnout whilst running a startup How the quality of the hours you work can affect you more than the quantity The importance of taking ‘proper’ breaks and holidays How 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/…

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The Ikigai of Mottainai & Creativity, with Victoria Close from Biku Designs 1:01:39

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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 work What Victoria’s learned about starting her own business How Victoria is showing up authentically on YouTube The 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/…

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The Expanding Ikigai of Live Theatre in Japan, with Michael Walker 51:25

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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 ikigai How Michael got bitten by the theatre bug while visiting Edinburgh How Michael applies lessons learned from sport to live theatre About SheepDog Theatre’s beginnings and its current transition Michael’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: https://www.youtube.com/c/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/…

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Finding Yoyu & Cultivating Abundance in Your Life, with Marci Kobayashi 57:09

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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 it How Marci applied the concept of Yoyu to a challenging time in her life About the importance of proactively taking time for yourself About ‘tiny altars’ and how they make claiming space more manageable How 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/…

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Obsessive Ikigai & The Healing Power of Self Love, with Elizabeth Hendrick 55:33

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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 it How Elizabeth felt ostracised as a young LGBTQ+ person and struggled to reconcile her sexuality with her Christian beliefs What made Elizabeth realise she lacked self love and how she decided to heal herself How Elizabeth ended up in a torturous relationship with a Japanese dominatrix About 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: https://www.instagram.com/exodainarrated/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exodaimemoir Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/exodaimemoir Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554135806819 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/…

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The Ikigai in Vagabondism, with Tengyo Kura 41:13

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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 heart Why we can never truly understand each other completely, but how love and respect lead to true connection What vagabondism means to Tengyo & what we can learn from people living a vagabond life Tengyo’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: https://www.instagram.com/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/ Instagram Artist: https://www.instagram.com/jennifershinkai/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/…

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Unlocking Ikigai: Navigating Transitions and Emerging with Purpose with Adrian Francis 49:33

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Welcome to Season 3 of Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai! Adrian Francis is the filmmaker behind the powerful documentary Paper City, exploring the impact of the firebombing of Tokyo in 1945 and the ongoing struggle for it to be acknowledged and remembered. Adrian was brave enough to come on the show at a point where he has not figured out his next steps yet. I thought this was an opportunity not to be missed: to hear from someone in the midst of a transition after completing a major project. If you are also going through a period of transition and haven’t got it all figured out, I think you will find much solace and inspiration in this episode. All those questions? Those hard to grasp ideas and concepts that feel so murky right now? Totally normal…in fact, an essential part of the process! 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 Adrian came to make a film about the firebombing of Tokyo What happens when you finish a project that has been the main focus of your life How you can find meaning for your next challenge Flashing forward and backward in our lives to see what our values are independent of current circumstances About Adrian Originally from Australia, Adrian Francis has lived in Tokyo for 17 years, working as a teacher, writer, and documentary filmmaker. He majored in documentary film at the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne University. Francis directed the award-winning documentary short, Lessons from the Night , which premiered at Sundance Film Festival. He was invited to participate in the Berlinale Talents program at the Berlin Film Festival, where he began developing the project that would become Paper City —his first feature-length film. Paper City premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2021 and has screened theatrically in Japan, and internationally at festivals and through Al Jazeera's Witness series. It has won numerous awards, including the Audience Award at the Tokyo Documentary Film Festival, an ATOM (Australian Teachers of Media) Award for Best History Documentary, and Best Emerging Director at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival. He recently gave a TEDxWasedaU talk on the bombing of civilians, Paper City: Memory, Forgetting, and the Firebombing of Tokyo . Most recently, Adrian has become interested in what we can do to take climate change action. Things mentioned in the episode: Paper City Screening: March 1-7 at Eigakan Stranger Screening daily at 11:20 (with English subtitles) 3 Chome-7-1 Kikukawa, Sumida City, Tokyo 130-0024 https://stranger.jp/movie/2541/ TEDxWasedaU Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFr3U3bbuMg Connect with Adrian and find out more about Paper City: Paper City Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/papercitytokyo/ Paper City Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/papercitytokyo Paper City X: https://twitter.com/papercitytokyo Paper City Website: papercityfilm.com Adrian’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_adrian_francis_/ 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/…

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Finding Your Ikigai in the Midst of a Mental Health Challenge, with David Macdonald 50:09

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Content Warning: In this episode of the podcast David Macdonald and I have a frank discussion of mental illness, depression, suicidal ideation and suicidal thoughts. If you are in Japan and want to talk to someone about these issues please consider contacting the Tokyo English lifeline at https://telljp.com/ . Today on the podcast we have a very important conversation with David Macdonald about mental health challenges. Originally from Canada, David is CEO of an independent advisory and consulting firm, focused on supporting Japanese companies go global, and global companies come to Japan, especially in media and tech. Whilst in the corporate world David experienced some mental health challenges that led to a diagnosis of depression and then later bipolar disorder. In this episode David and I discuss what ikigai means to someone for whom simply getting out of bed in the morning is their reason to get out of bed. 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 brought David to Japan in the 90s What it was like for David to be succeeding in his corporate career while simultaneously experiencing depression and being diagnosed as bipolar The importance of being honest at work and at home about the internal challenges you are facing About the work of a Japanese firm, Tech Doctors, using data from wearable devices to improve diagnoses and therapies for various illnesses What you can do if you think someone you know is experiencing a mental health challenge like depression About David: David is CEO of an independent advisory and consulting firm, focused on supporting Japanese companies go global, and global companies come to Japan, especially in media and tech. David brings decades of international experience, including strategic leadership, general management, culture development and talent strategy, and a rich multicultural background. A Canadian native with formative years in Germany and the UK, David came to Japan in 1995. Armed with a BA (Honors) in History and Politics (International Relations) and an MSc in East Asian Business, he also holds several qualifications in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Governance, and Cross-cultural Leadership and Management, and is a strong advocate of mental health awareness in the workforce, and is very open with his own struggles with bipolar disorder. He helped pioneer NTT DoCoMo’s non-Japanese team in 1999, with the i-mode mobile internet service. His trajectory included key roles at major media and tech brands like Disney, Google (YouTube), and Discovery as GM and President for Japan. Much of his work at Discovery focused on transformation, and post-merger with Warner Media, he steered the Discovery business and served as VP for Networks. He also serves as an Independent Director for Tokyo Prime traded KADOKAWA CORPORATION, as a member of the remuneration committee, and stewards diverse non-profits as a member of their boards. Things mentioned in the episode: David’s TedXtalk: https://www.ted.com/talks/david_macdonald_let_s_talk_about_mental_health Connect with David: Website: http://djmac.jp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/djmacdonald/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djmacjapan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djmacjapan/ 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/…

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The Ikigai in Empowering Others to Have Fitness Autonomy, with Menya Hinga 50:17

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Happy Holidays everyone! This can be a time that tests our health and wellness goals, so this episode’s guest is here to help. Menya Hinga is an online health and fitness coach and co-founder of SOGO Fitness—Japan’s largest non-profit fitness community. Menya has helped hundreds of individuals and numerous organizations make better decisions related to fitness, habits and health. Listen to the episode to feel more empowered and confident in your ability to make changes in your 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 an online health and fitness coach is different to a personal trainer What fitness autonomy is and why Menya strives to help his clients achieve it What made Menya reassess his relationship to alcohol and drinking The importance of your environment when making big changes in your life How Menya empowers people to believe in their own ability to change About Menya: Menya helps high-performers who are struggling to manage stress and weight gain, learn to stress less, move more, and eat better in order to transform their health and performance. As an expat, father of 3 (soon to be 4!), and personal trainer turned online health and fitness coach, Menya knows how difficult it can be to create work-life balance while wearing many different hats. So for more than a decade he’s helped hundreds of individuals and numerous organizations make better decisions related to fitness, habits and health as a health and fitness coach, personal trainer, and co-founder of SOGO Fitness—Japan’s largest non-profit fitness community. Connect with Menya: Website: www.menyahinga.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/menyahinga/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/menyahinga Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/menyahinga/ 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/…

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The ikigai in fighting and filmmaking with Rionne McAvoy 1:05:02

for 1 year siden1:05:02

1:05:02

On this latest episode of Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai I talk to Rionne McAvoy who I first came into contact with through their documentary film “The Ones Left Behind: The Plight of Single Mothers in Japan.” The film is an incredibly moving look at an often ignored aspect of life in Japan for many mothers and their children, as well as helping to improve their living conditions. Listen to the episode to hear more about the documentary, as well as learning how Rionne found his ikigai in filmmaking, martial arts and pro wrestling! 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 Rionne got started in martial arts What brought Rionne to Japan About becoming a pro wrestler in his thirties About Rionne’s love of filmmaking What led Rionne to make The Ones Left Behind, a documentary on single mothers in Japan About Rionne: Rionne McAvoy is a documentary filmmaker originally hailing from the Gold Coast in Australia. Residing in Tokyo for almost 20 years, his documentary "The Ones Left Behind: The Plight of Single Mothers in Japan" is a shining light down the path of improving the living conditions for single parents both in Japan and around the world. His documentary delves deep into Japanese society culture and history to expose a side of Japan that many refuse to admit exists. Connect with Rionne: Twitter: https://twitter.com/IamRionne Website: https://japanmediaservices.com/ Film Twitter: https://twitter.com/singlemomjapan Film Instagram: instagram.com/onesleftbehind Film Website: onesleftbehind.com Trailer for film: https://vimeo.com/772395650 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/…

for 3 years siden55:12

55:12

This week on the podcast I talk to the inspirational Lowell Sheppard. Lowell is the Founder of HOPE International Development Agency Japan, author of the book Never Too Late and Founder of the Never Too Late Academy, and an avid sailor. He is currently training for his dream solo voyage across the Pacific, by sailing around Japan in collaboration with the History Channel. Lowell shares some truly remarkable stories about his work as a social entrepreneur, his love of sailing, how he conceptualizes his ikigai and his legacy, and how he helps others find their purpose and to achieve their dreams. 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 relationship between dreams and ikigai What Nemo North is, and why Lowell considers it to be part of his ikigai How the possibility of learning new things is also a huge part of Lowell’s ikigai About Lowell’s Never Too Late Community and why it resonates with people, especially middle-aged men Where Lowell sees his legacy, you may need some tissues handy! About Lowell: Lowell Sheppard is an author, speaker, social entrepreneur, former minister, Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, husband, father, long-distance cyclist, and aspiring sailor. Lowell has spent his entire adult life working with established non-government organisations (also known as non-profit societies) and in several NGO start-ups. As Founder of HOPE International Development Agency Japan, Lowell has seen the growth of HOPE-JP to be in the top 2% of charitable organisations in Japan with the coveted “nintei” certified tax-deductible status. Lowell has served for the last twenty years as an informal advisor to companies and boards in the area of ethical decision making and thought leadership with a focus on community legacy. He has dedicated much of his life to social and environmental improvement projects. As an author, his book Never Too Late (Lion Hudson PLC, 2005) was published in four languages and was the catalyst for his latest social enterprise called the Never Too Late Academy, which helps others gain the courage and tools to realize their dreams. T he flagship course is called “Daring To Realize Your Dream”. Lowell moved onto a sailboat two years ago in Tokyo and is currently sailing full time around Japan, training for his solo crossing of the Pacific before the age of 70. His voyage is being documented by the History Channel. Connect with Lowell: Websites: https://www.nevertoolateacademy.com/ www.hope.or.jp www.navigate22.com www.pacificsolo.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlY62JTMMkU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pacificsolo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lowellinjapan/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Never-Too-Late-Change-Course/dp/0825461014 Connect with Jennifer Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifershinkai/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifershinkaicoach Website: https://jennifershinkai.com/…

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Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai

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