Taku's Blog++: Instagram, thank you!! We’ve passed 280,000!!! 🎉📈✨

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https://www.youtube.com/@takuway

Instagram, thank you!! We’ve passed 280,000 followers!!! 🎉📈✨

Today, various teachers
spoke about “beauty”
from all kinds of perspectives.

As for me—
I spoke about the art of living.

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① On Motivation, Interest, and Individual Differences

Motivation and interest aren’t simply “on or off” — they can be seen more like a process: are they fermenting or rotting?
People express and sustain motivation in different ways—some are sprinters, others are marathoners.
Some individuals struggle with consistency and tend to lose motivation quickly depending on their environment.

② Understanding Personality Traits & Using AI

Human traits (such as personality and behavioral tendencies) can be broadly categorized, and tailoring your approach accordingly is highly effective.
AI tools are now emerging that analyze these traits to enhance communication—for example, figuring out how to convey a message so it resonates.
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According to one of those AI analyses, Takumi Yamazaki is quite an eccentric—drawn to the new, but not great with long-term consistency.
They said, “You must’ve started your work in a really supportive environment,” and I was overwhelmed with gratitude.

③ Keys to Breakthrough and Personal Transformation

Past successes or external validation can push someone forward—but they rarely lead to deep, lasting change.
What truly transforms a person is often a soul-shaking experience, or someone who wholeheartedly walks beside them.
A turning point often comes when we realize the difference between “tasks that have an endpoint” and “work that, like art, is never finished.”

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I talk about all of this here—feel free to give it a listen!
My encounter with Professor Tanaka was a major turning point.

　When I lost all motivation,

I was 21 when Professor Tanaka said to me:

“If that work is just a job, it will eventually end.
But if it’s art, it never ends.”
That’s when I found an exit.
Not a method—but a vision (in World 2) that gave me a way forward and brought me back to life.

④ The Gap Between How Others See You and How You See Yourself

Even when you’re socially recognized, it can feel painful if that image doesn’t match your true essence.
Even celebrities sometimes feel the urge to escape to “a place where no one knows them”—a desire to return to their original self.

⑤ The Difference Between World 1 (Reality) and World 2 (Future Vision)

When you set goals in World 1 (the current reality), the question becomes “How can I work harder as I am now?”—which rarely triggers real transformation.
But when you place your goal in World 2 (a non-current, future version of you), it assumes change. You’re required to evolve—and that’s where transformation begins.
In coaching, it’s said that by heightening the vividness of your World 2 goal, change becomes more tangible.
At the same time, you also need to heighten your awareness of who you are now in World 1.

So if you're going to achieve that W2 goal—what kind of present self must you be?

⑥ The Difference and Connection Between Dreams and Prayers

When placed in World 2, a “dream” functions as hope and direction.
But be cautious: as we try to bring dreams into reality, they can turn into mere collages—patchworks of past experiences.
A “prayer,” on the other hand, transcends personal desires.
It’s not religious—it’s more like an aesthetic, or a philosophy of coexistence.

⑦ A Shinto-Inspired and Artistic Way of Living

Shinto is not so much a religion as it is a Way—like Budo (martial arts) or Sado (the way of tea)—focused on everyday rituals and attitude.
The posture of wishing for beauty and well-being not just for oneself, but for the whole, becomes a form of prayer.
It invites us to see life as a work of art.
In the end, a profound structure emerges:

Dream = Prayer = Co-Creation of the Future
This offers a philosophy where one’s personal way of living becomes deeply interconnected with society and the world.

- 🌏 A Global Look at Japan’s “Ikigai” Theory — Summary
  ① What is Ikigai?
  Ikigai is a Japanese concept meaning “reason for being.”
  It has gained worldwide attention as a potential key to longevity and well-being.
  Why is it attracting global interest?
  Despite Japan’s long working hours and low vacation rates, it remains one of the world’s longest-living nations.
  Many researchers believe ikigai plays a major role in this.
  ② The 4 Core Elements of Ikigai
  Ikigai is found at the intersection of four overlapping spheres:
  1. What you love (Passion)
    - Activities you get lost in
    - e.g. manga, gaming, cooking, reading
  2. What you’re good at (Talent)
    - Things you excel at with minimal effort
    - e.g. presentations, writing, sales
    - A zone where you can say, “I’ve got this!”
  3. What you can be paid for (Profession)
    - Skills that can generate income
    - e.g. design, sales calls, writing
  4. What the world needs (Mission)
    - Activities that benefit society or others
    - e.g. caregiving, education, environmental work, NPOs
  ③ The Overlapping Areas and Their Meanings
  Each combination of two or three elements creates a different level of satisfaction—and potential imbalance:
  - Love × Skill = Passion
    - Fulfilling, but may not be financially sustainable
  - Skill × Paid = Profession
    - Generates income, but may lack purpose
  - Paid × Needed = Vocation
    - Socially valuable, but may not spark joy
  - Love × Needed = Mission
    - Meaningful, but may lack income or confidence

④ When Three Elements Overlap
Each combination of three elements brings fulfillment—but also a missing piece:
- Love × Skill × Need → Fulfilled, but not financially stable
  Example: A passionate but low-view YouTuber
- Love × Skill × Money → Personally satisfying, but lacks impact
  Example: Investing/speculating—low societal contribution (seen as “empty” work)
- Skill × Money × Need → Comfortable but unfulfilling
  Example: A well-paying temp job or work you didn’t choose
- Love × Money × Need → Exciting but insecure
  Missing the “skill” component, so long-term sustainability is uncertain
⑤ The Heart of Ikigai
True Ikigai lies at the intersection of all four elements:
Something you love,
that you’re good at,
that the world needs,
and that you can be paid for.
This is often referred to as the secret to living a long and happy life.
⑥ Application (Putting It into Practice)
- Map your current activities onto the four Ikigai circles.
- Identify which element is missing—and consider how to supplement it.
Example: The author’s YouTube book review project fits “Love, Skill, and Need,”
but hasn’t yet become a source of income—so the “Money” piece is missing.
⑦ Summary
Ikigai serves as a blueprint for balancing life.
“When even one element is missing, it can leave you feeling anxious or empty.”
The world is paying attention to Ikigai because it may hold the key to the Japanese secret of long life and quiet contentment.

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSSy2sGAo/

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The self that sees yourself thinking that way.
The self that watches yourself feeling that way.

The one who thinks, who worries, who reacts—
That’s not the true you.
The true you is the one watching all of that unfold.

🧠 1. Rethinking Age and Life Design

Back in school, I never really imagined what life would be like in my 50s and beyond. But as I get closer to that age, the idea of “working backwards from the end” is starting to feel real.
Questions like “How long can I keep standing in front of people?” come up. I’ve been inspired by artists like Eikichi Yazawa, who continue to express themselves no matter their age.
Even the structure of Japan’s long-term care insurance system (which kicks in more fully around age 72) encourages us to ask: “How do I want to live—and until when?”
Planning backwards becomes a powerful mindset.

🛁 2. The Culture of Bathing and the Value of Healing

In many countries, bathing is seen as a leisure activity.
But in Japan, it’s deeply tied to healing.
Our culture emphasizes mental recovery through the simple act of daily bathing.
Rather than chasing superficial youthfulness or cosmetic fixes, what really matters is the inner sense of calm and satisfaction.

👓 3. Embracing Changes in Appearance and Self-Acceptance

There’s value in not forcing ourselves to look younger, but instead, honestly embracing aging and physical changes.
True maturity comes from designing a life that makes sense to you, without self-deception.
As we age, it’s not fear of failure that stops us—it’s the thought of “Ugh… I can’t be bothered.”
And overcoming that inertia takes real courage.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 4. Miraculous Cross-Generational Connections

Believe it or not, there are grandpas out there marrying women the same age as their grandkids.
Which makes me say... Cistanche is incredible.

Do you know what Cistanche is?

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🌿 And what makes this possible?
—The ability to adapt values and circumstances with flexibility,
and most importantly, the power of human connection.

🌧 5. The Individual Nature of a Life

What you love today may not be something you’re doing ten years from now.
Life flows forward when you’ve built something up that allows you to move on with grace.

🔥 6. The Power of Consistency — and the Sparkler Metaphor

Even if your heart ignites in a moment of passion,
if there’s no foundation, the flame fades quickly—like a fleeting sparkler.
But with steady, consistent effort,
you’ll be able to stay grounded—no matter how intense the excitement or challenges around you.

👥 7. The Integrated Value of Environment, People, and Experience

True success doesn’t come from just one factor—
it’s the synergy of experience, environment, and people that brings it to life.
It’s the accumulated 40 years of groundwork that fuels the value you create from here on.

🗣 8. The “Final Words” That Move Us into Action

Even as time runs out, a single “last word” can leave a lasting impact.
At life’s milestones—or near its end—what you choose to say reflects the legacy you leave behind.