Ikigai in Later Life: Purpose After Retirement in Japan

Retirement removes a daily structure, and Japanese ideas about ikigai, work, volunteering and community offer practical ways to rebuild a sense of purpose.

Published October 19, 2026 at 12:54 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: In Japan, ikigai in later life usually means keeping something worthwhile in the day after full-time work ends. Common sources include part-time or community work, hobbies, volunteering, family roles and regular groups. Government programs and surveys show many older Japanese continue working or taking part in activities, though the reasons are mixed and include income as well as meaning.

Why retirement raises the question

For many people, a full-time job supplies structure, company, and a sense of being useful. When it ends, the days can feel unanchored, and Japanese writing on aging often asks what will take its place. The word ikigai, meaning whatever makes life worth living, is a natural way to put that question, since it covers people, tasks, and routines rather than only a profession.

The psychiatrist Mieko Kamiya, whose 1966 book brought the word to a wide audience, noted that a person's central life theme can change. It may move to something related or to something entirely new. That idea is encouraging for retirement, which can be treated as a point at which a new theme is chosen instead of an ending.

Planning ahead can ease the change. Some people begin building outside interests, friendships, and skills while still employed, so that a retirement date opens time for activities already familiar rather than a blank calendar. Even a few months of preparation, such as joining a class or a local group, can make the transition feel more like a shift than a loss.

What Japanese survey data show

The Cabinet Office's FY2024 survey of people aged 60 and over found that more than 40 percent were working for income. The number of employed people aged 65 and over had risen for 21 consecutive years in the labor force data the report uses. Compared with 2014, employment rates were up by 13.5 points for ages 65 to 69 and 11.1 points for ages 70 to 74.

The reasons are mixed. Over half of respondents said they wanted income, while nearly 30 percent of those aged 65 and over cited health and staying active. Among people who wanted work but had none, health issues were the most common barrier, followed by age limits in hiring. Work in later life is therefore partly financial, partly social, and partly a question of purpose.

These figures describe a survey of one age group in one year, and they cannot predict any individual's experience. They do show, though, that continuing to work, paid or unpaid, is a familiar path for older people in Japan, and that many choose it for reasons beyond a paycheck.

Work as a source of purpose

Several programs aim to match older people with short or flexible jobs. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare describes Silver Human Resource Centers as organizations that provide temporary and short-term jobs connected to the local community. Its pages also describe business seminars for older people who want to start their own ventures.

These descriptions come from an official page that dates from earlier years, so readers should check current programs and eligibility locally. The idea they illustrate remains clear: part-time work close to home can give routine, small earnings, and contact with neighbors. In the survey above, respondents who chose jobs put using their experience and skills, easy commuting, and fulfillment ahead of salary.

Volunteering, learning and community

Official materials also promote volunteer activities under the banner of active aging, meant to encourage social participation. The Cabinet Office report highlights local examples as well, such as a smartphone workshop run by a Tokyo ward in which participants reported more communication by phone, and a town program that fosters exchange between generations and a sense of purpose.

Learning and hobbies fit the same pattern. Calligraphy, gardening, local history, choir singing, and walking groups provide regular appointments and gentle goals. Because these activities can be chosen freely, they let a retired person try several options before settling on the ones that bring the most satisfaction. Many communities in Japan and overseas run such classes through libraries and local centers.

A gradual approach tends to work well. Instead of filling every day immediately, a retired person can add one activity per month, keep what fits, and drop what does not. That pace respects the fact that energy and interests differ, and that rest is itself a legitimate part of later life.

Family, friends and moai

Relationships are a major source of ikigai in later life. Time with grandchildren, regular calls, and shared meals provide reasons to look ahead. In Okinawa, groups called moai, glossed as meetings for a common purpose, are described as social support groups that meet regularly, and they are often mentioned in discussions of Okinawan long life.

The government survey adds a note of realism. People living alone were more anxious about their finances than those living with others, and women aged 75 and over expressed more worry than men of the same age. Building a circle of regular contacts therefore has practical as well as emotional value, since it creates people to turn to when needs arise.

What research says about ikigai and health

Japanese research has examined whether having ikigai is linked to health. The Ohsaki Study followed 43,391 adults for about seven years and found that those who said they had no ikigai had a higher risk of death from all causes than those who did. The finding is an association in one large group and does not prove that ikigai causes longer life.

For an individual, the sensible reading is modest: feeling that life has a point is something worth cultivating for its own sake, alongside medical care, activity, and social contact. This guide shares general cultural information and published research, not professional advice; for questions about health or mood in later life, talk with a doctor.

Tips for overseas readers planning retirement

Readers outside Japan can adapt the ideas without changing country. Plan the first year of retirement with a few regular appointments, such as a weekly class, a volunteer shift, and a standing meeting with friends. Consider part-time or project work if it appeals, and check local rules and benefits before making decisions.

Keep goals small enough to start immediately. A person who walks daily and meets one friend each week has already built two anchors. Over time, notice which activities bring a sense of worth and expand those. Treat the plan as a draft that can be revised as energy, health, and interests change, which matches the way Japanese writers describe ikigai as something that evolves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do people in Japan keep working after retirement?

Many do. The Cabinet Office's FY2024 survey found that over 40 percent of people aged 60 and over were working for income, and employment among those aged 65 and over has risen for years. Reasons include income, health, and staying active. Programs such as Silver Human Resource Centers offer short-term local jobs, so check current details.

Can volunteering be an ikigai?

Yes. Ikigai can be any activity that makes life feel worth living, and volunteering often provides routine, contact with others, and a sense of being useful. Japanese government materials promote volunteer activities under the idea of active aging. Choose something that matches your energy and interests, and start with a small commitment.

What if I feel I have lost my ikigai after retiring?

This is a common experience, and Japanese writers note that life themes can change. Try small experiments such as a class, a volunteer shift, or regular time with friends, and notice what feels worthwhile. If low mood persists, talk with a doctor, since support is available.

Want to go deeper? Tokyo Paul's book Unlocking Ikigai is available on Amazon.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: Ikigai and Okinawa: How Daily Purpose Fits Long Life, Ikigai and Work: How the Idea Applies to Careers and Ikigai: A Reason to Get Up in the Morning.