Ikigai | 生き甲斐

“A man is not called wise because he talks and talks again; but if he is peaceful, loving, and fearless then he is in truth called wise.”

• Buddha

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that combines the terms iki, meaning “alive” or “life,” and gai, meaning “benefit” or “worth.”

When combined, these terms mean that which gives your life worth, meaning, or purpose.

With the passing of years, Yoshito San built his own world. His brush became an extension of his mind, speaking endlessly through the ink that was left by bold strokes which imprinted pieces of his soul onto each one of the thousands of sheets of paper he created for everyone to see.

By: Ilan Derech Collection: Living Tokyo Shot on: SONY A&RII & ZEISS ZM 1.4/35 Year: 2018