The Ikigai of Family with The Kumagai Family

Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai

On this episode of the podcast, for the first time I interview a family!

The Kumagai family are an amazing and inspirational family that believes strongly in family togetherness. Through individual projects and family projects the Kumagais are bringing their philosophy of togetherness, inclusion and connection to their neighbourhood and wider community. This conversation is a great example of how ikigai can be found in family and how family can help individuals find and pursue their own 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:

• Susana talk about her philosophy that the family is where community starts
• How their role in their family helps motivate the Kumagais as individuals to pursue their own projects
• About all the different community projects the Kumagais have founded and are involved in, including The Family Project, Book Swap Japan and Our Living Room Cafe
• How the themes of togetherness, inclusion and connection are practised by the Kumagais at work, school, in the neighbourhood and the community at large

About the Kumagais:

The Kumagai family is based in Chofu in Japan. The four Kumagais are: Susana (raised in Venezuela with Japanese heritage), Antonio, Sara (age 16) and Daisuke (age 14). As a family they launched The Family Project aka Oyakodon Project (named after a Japanese chicken and egg dish representing parent and child) to encourage families to work together for social change. Each member of the family has their own role and own projects which are linked below.

Connect with the Kumagais

The Family Project

Twitter: @OyakodonProject

Website: https://contactoyakodon.wixsite.com/home

Book Swap Japan 川の図書館　(The Library by the River) - Sara

Twitter: @BookSwapChofu

Website: https://bookswapjapan.org

Our Living Room Cafe 無料カフェ - Daisuke

Twitter: @livingroomchofu

Website: https://ourlivingroomcafe.mystrikingly.com

Connect with Jennifer

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifershinkai/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifershinkaicoach

Website: https://jennifershinkai.com/