The secret may have to do with what Japanese call ikigai . There is no direct English translation, but it's a term that embodies the idea of happiness in living. Essentially, ikigai is the reason why you get up in the morning. You may also like: <a href="http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20160112-in-sweden-you-have-to-stop-work-to-chat">Can you work yourself to death? </a><a href="http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20160112-in-sweden-you-have-to-stop-work-to-chat">Is this the secret to Swedish success? </a>' <a href="http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20170413-we-had-to-give-them-bonuses-to-leave-early">We had to give them bonuses' to leave early </a> To those in the West who are more familiar with the concept of ikigai, it's often associated with a Venn diagram with four overlapping qualities: what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.

Champion hurdler Dai Tamesue, who retired in 2012, said in a recent <a href="https://cybozushiki.cybozu.co.jp/articles/m001286.html">interview </a>that the fundamental question he asked after he retired was: "what was it that I wanted to achieve by playing sports?" "For me, what I wanted to achieve through competing in track and field was to change people's perceptions". After retiring, he started a company that supports sports-related business. Tamesue's story shows the malleable nature of ikigai and how it can be applied. When retirement comes, it is helpful to have a clear understanding of why you do what you do beyond collecting a payslip.

For Japanese workers in big cities, a typical work day begins with a state called sushi-zum e, a term which likens commuters squeezed into a crowded train car to tightly packed grains of rice in sushi. The stress doesn't stop there.

Ikigai: A Japanese concept to improve work and life

Lucidio Bracho