Enormous Earthquake in Japan: Coping with Stress Using Purpose-in-Life/Ikigai

doi:10.4236/psych.2011.28118

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Psychology 773

2011. Vol.2, No.8, 773-776

Enormous Earthquake in Japan: Coping with Stress Using

Purpose-in-Life/Ikigai

Riichiro Ishida

Faculty of Medicine, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan.

Email: [email protected]

Received July 21st, 2011; revised August 24th, 2011; accepted September 21st, 2011.

Every person has a will to achieve meaning and purpose in life (PIL)/ikigai. According to previous studies,

PIL/ikigai provides people with the ability to integrate stressful psychological events from the past, present, and

future with less conflict or confusion. This ability results in decreased anxiety and lower sympathetic nervous

system activity during psychological and physical stressful situations. PIL/ikigai develops by positive experi-

ences in one’s life such as experiencing sympathetic listening by others and being affected by persons and/or

events. Overall, evidence shows that PIL/ikigai is an effective technique for coping with stress and helped many

people cope with the enormous earthquake that occurred in Japan in March 2011.

Keywords: The East Japan Enormous Earthquake, Stress, Purpose in Life, Ikigai

Introduction

Many people are aware of the enormous earthquake that took

place in eastern Japan on March 11, 2011. The earthquake had

a magnitude of 9 (7 on the Japanese scale) and triggered a tsu-

nami with a height of more than 10 meters. These events, in-

cluding many large aftershocks, destroyed cities over a vast

area. Furthermore, the earthquake and subsequent tsunami re-

sulted in a serious accident at a nuclear power plant (Tokyo

Electric Co., Ltd., in Fukushima Prefecture) that led to a radia-

tion leak from the damaged plant [The Niigata Nippo, March

13, 2011]. This radiation leak led to many misconceptions and

fears among Japanese citizens. As a result of these events, a

large number of people had to leave their homes and live in

gymnasiums or fabricated houses. Many people, including chil-

dren, continue to cope with the consequences of these events.

The recovery efforts and rescue and relief activities have been

ongoing, and many people involved in these processes are

showing signs of mental and physical fatigue. The clean up

from this disaster is also expected to continue for a long period

and contribute to increased stress. Effective techniques for cop-

ing with stress should be shared with victims of this disaster.

Based on previous studies, the author wishes to propose to psy-

chologists that achieving meaning or purpose-in-life (PIL)/

ikigai is an effective technique for coping with stress.

Stress

Anxiety is associated with an unknown future in the face of

various conflicts and types of confusion [Atkinson, Atkinson,

Smith, Ben, & Nolen-Hoesksema, 1996; Smith, Nolen-Hoek-

sema, Fredrickson, & Loftus, 2003]. Any stress causes anxiety

and can lead to imbalances in the autonomic nervous system

[Atkinson et al., 1996; Smith et al., 2003]. If the stressful event

continues and/or the person cannot effectively cope with the

stress, he/she may experience mental and/or physical diseases

such as depression or coronary heart disease [Atkinson et al.,

1996; Smith et al., 2003]. Thus, stress affects both the mind and

the body.

Coping with Stress Using PIL/Ikigai

Many philosophical, literal, religious, psychological, and

medical techniques for coping with stress have been proposed

[e.g., Arai, 2007; Fahrenbach, 1907; Ginger, 1995; Irie, 1982;

Ishida & Okada, 2001; Kida, 2006, Atkinson et al., 1996; Pas-

cal,1897; Smith et al., 2003]. Recently, we found evidence that

“PIL and “ikigai,” two social attitudes, have been identified as

effective techniques for coping with various kind of stress

[Ishida, 2008a; Ishida, 2008b; Ishida & Okada, 2006; Ishida &

Okada, 2011a; Ishida & Okada, 2011b; Ishida & Okada, 2011c;

Ishida, Okada, & Bando, 2004a; Ishida, Okada, & Bando, 2004

b]. PIL is based on the existential philosophy that appeared in

Europe and has been around for more than 150 years [Kida,

2006]. Its basic premise is “Everything changes. You only get

one chance at life. Every person should achieve meaning in

one’s life [Ofman, 1980]”. The idea that “everything changes”

has existed for centuries, appearing in Japanese classical litera-

ture from the 12th century [Takagi, Ozawa, Atsumi, & Kin-

daichi, 1959]. “Ikigai” means “worth living” or “meaningful-

ness of life,” and appeared in the Japanese classical literature in

the 14th century [Goto & Kamada, 1960]. PIL and ikigai are

commonly based on the intrinsic and natural motivation that

“Every person has a will to achieve meaning in one’s life

[Crumbaugh & Maholic, 1972; Frankl, 1972; Kamiya, 2004;

Kuroda, 1966],” and proposes the importance of “now” “here”

and “goal orientation in the future”. Those without PIL/ikigai

commonly feel empty of mind, that is, live in an existential

vacuum [Crumbaugh & Maholic, 1972; Frankl, 1972; Kamiya,

2004; Kuroda, 1966]. In addition, those without PIL/ikigai also

have a strong need for approval from others [Ishida & Okada,

2011a]. In contrast, those with PIL/ikigai commonly perform

tasks for their own satisfaction and pleasure rather than to gain

approval from others [Allen, 2000; Bundra, 1997; Ueda, 1993].

However, this does not mean they think of only themselves and

ignore others’ happiness but rather indicates that they transfer

their interest from themselves to other people and events.

[Kamiya, 2004; Kuroda, 1966; Kuroda, 1969].

According to our studies, PIL/ikigai provides people with the

ability to integrate stressful psychological events in the past,

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774

present, and future with less conflict or confusion [Ishida,

2008a; Ishida, 2008b; Ishida & Okada, 2006; Ishida & Okada,

2011a; Ishida & Okada, 2011b; Ishida & Okada, 2011c; Ishida,

Okada, & Bando, 2004a; Ishida, Okada, & Bando, 2004b]. This

ability results in decreased anxiety and lower sympathetic

nervous system activity during psychological and physical

stressful situations such performing a time-limited task that will

be evaluated by others, or meeting a person for the first time

[Ishida, 2008a; Ishida, 2008b; Ishida & Okada, 2006; Ishida &

Okada, 2011a; Ishida & Okada, 2011b; Ishida & Okada, 2011c;

Ishida, Okada, & Bando, 2004a; Ishida, Okada, & Bando, 2004

b]. PIL/ikigai decreases psychiatric/somatic symptoms under

stressful situations [Ishida & Okada, 2006; Ishida]. This, in turn,

influences the immune function and decreases the mortality risk

[Abo & Kawamura, 2002; Hui & Fung, 2009; Koizumi, Ka-

neko, & Motohashi, 2008; Krause, 2009; Kremer & Ironson,

2009; Murata, Kondo, Tamakoshi, Yatsuya, & Toyoshima,

2006; Nakanishi, Fukuda, Takatorige, & Tatara, 2005; Pinquart,

Silbereisen, & Fröhlich, 2009; Seki, 2001; Sone et al., 2008;

Tanno & Sakata, 2007]. These studies suggest the value of PIL/

ikigai.

How PIL/Ikigai Contributes to Life Even in a

Stressful Environment

Newspapers in Japan often report victims of the earthquake

disaster from viewpoint of PIL/ikigai. Several examples follow:

Patient helper (female, 62 years old): This woman has

worked as a helper for patients in the damaged prefecture and

lives in a gymnasium with other families. She regrets that she

could not send old aged patients to their home safely on the day

of the earthquake. She has experience as an aerobic exercise

instructor for dementia patients at an institution. She started to

teach aerobic exercise with music for others in the gymnasium

and experiences great satisfaction at seeing others’ faces fill

with pleasure. Her students say: “We have most interesting time

during aerobic exercise with others.” (The Yomiuri Shimbun,

July 8, 2011).

Junior high school student group (males and females, 12 - 14

years old): People living in fabricated houses get to appreciate

Japanese traditional dance in their area. Junior high school stu-

dents who engage in cleaning gymnasiums and fabricated

houses as volunteers decided to engage people with dance. This

allowed them to exercise and exhibit their skills. An old woman,

one of people who was watching, remembered her grand-

daughter who died during the earthquake and was moved to

tears while watching. The students decided to do dance exhibi-

tions from now on to give vitality and pleasure to people estab-

lishing lives in a new area. (The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 8,

2011).

Retired person (male, 68 years old): He lived in a gymna-

sium and now lives in a fabricated house after losing his wife

and dog to the tsunami. Along with volunteers of a nonprofit

organization, he planted morning glories on the outside of the

fabricated house. He says “I experience great pleasure caring

for the morning glories and touching the earth.” (The Mainichi

Shimbun, May 31, 2011).

Oyster farmer (male, 43 years old): He has engaged in plant-

ing oysters for 25 years. He lives in his half-broken house and

lost his fishing boat to the tsunami. However he cleans the

beach every day and is attempting to start planting oysters for

people who like eating them. (The Mainichi Shimbun, May 31,

2011).

Housewife (66 years old): She took out an address book

when she and her husband escaped from their house on the day

of the earthquake. She lives in a fabricated house with three

grandsons and a granddaughter who lost their mother. She de-

cided to keep a diary in the address book. She firmly believes

that describing the events relating to the earthquake in the diary

will help people in the future. (The Asahi Shimbun, July 6,

2011).

School teacher (male, 26 years old): He worked at a junior

high school as a supporter for retarded students and was a bas-

ketball coach in the school club. He escaped to the third floor of

the school with his students on that day of tsunami and now

lives in a school with other people. He takes great pleasure

being a volunteer basketball coach for junior high school stu-

dents now. (The Asahi Shimbun, May 31, 2011).

Paralympics athlete (male, 62 years old): He was a medalist

in the discus throw in the Paralympics. He could not move the

lower half of his body after an accident that occurred when he

was 40 years old and worked on a ship as a fishermen. When he

was 49 years old, his friend taught him the discus throw. His

house was not destroyed by tsunami, but a lack of oil kept him

from training at the rehabilitation institute, and this broken

exercise routine meant he could not perform in the Paralympics.

In spite of these events, he started training at a nearby track

field with his wife’s support; she measures his throwing dis-

tance. (The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 3, 2011).

Restaurant manager (male, 40 years old): He lost two restau-

rants and a bar to the tsunami. In spite of these events, he

started a business again using used a ramen shop with an only

area of 30 m2 and opened a sailing car that sells grilled meat

and omelets. His goal is to ensure that the people in the area eat,

drink, and smile. (The Mainichi Shimbun, July 4, 2011).

Proposals for Development of PIL/Ikigai

Many events correlate with the development of PIL/ikigai,

including the recent disaster in Japan. These events often pro-

vide people, including victims, with a chance to consider im-

portant questions such as “What is the relation between nature

and human beings?”, “What was the meaning of my former

life?”, “What was the meaning of another person’s life?”,

“What is a real happiness?”, and “How should I live from now

on?”. These questions may help people establish PIL/ikigai.

Several techniques can help with the development of PIL/

ikigai. One involves finding people who will “listen with sym-

pathy”. People tend to feel worried, conflicted, and confused

when attempting to solve problems on their own. This process

can lead to the development of anxiety. However, sympathetic

listening by others can help a person integrate stressful psycho-

logical events, which can decrease anxiety. Sympathetic listen-

ers can include parents, friends, teachers, neighbors, and psy-

chological counselors. It should be noted, however, that the

main job of the listener is to provide a sympathetic ear and not

to try to solve the problem for the person.

Another technique to help with the development of PIL/iki-

gai is “affecting persons and/or events”. When person is af-

fected by people and events, his/her anxiety may decrease. For

example, many entertainers, comedians, athletes, novelists, and

others visited the disaster area in Japan and have taken part in

various activities with victims, such as singing songs, talking,

performing magic shows, playing baseball, reading picture

books, and cooking. These events can help people relax and

feel less anxiety. Similarly, seeing members of Self-Defense-

Forces, police officers, fire fighters, other groups, and individu-

als from not only the damaged prefectures but also from other

R. ISHIDA 775

areas, as well as people from other countries, take part in re-

covery efforts and rescue and relief activities, also impacts

people. In many cases, se eing people “give back” to others can

inspire them to give of themselves, which is an important factor

in the establishment of PIL/ikigai.

Conclusions

“The East Japan Enormous Earthquake” traumatized many

people, both physically and psychologically, and receiving war-

m-hearted support from friends and strangers has helped many

people deal with this disaster. The earthquake and the warm-

hearted support will provide people with a chance to consider

the meaning of one’s life and contribute to developing PIL/

ikigai as an effective technique for coping with stress.

Note

This manuscript was completed four months after the earth-

quake (July 10, 2011).

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