The Ikigai in Career and Activism with Rochelle Kopp

This week on the show I have a fantastic conversation with my long term mentor and multi-potentialite, Rochelle Kopp. Rochelle is a consultant, an author, a mentor, an educator, a board director, and an activist. Last year Rochelle was named as one of Change.Org Japan’s Changemakers of the Year, and has recently been spearheading a movement to protect Tokyo’s green oasis Jingu Gaien from a redevelopment plan that would sacrifice a thousand trees and raze two historic stadiums in order to make room for three skyscrapers. Listen to the episode to hear all about Rochelle’s career and activism and how both are sources of ikigai for her.

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:

  • Why her career as an intercultural consultant is a source of ikigai for Rochelle
  • How Rochelle started her activism through online petitions to protect Japan’s green spaces
  • Why trees and green spaces are so important for our physical and mental health
  • Rochelle’s ideas about what her role as a non-Japanese person in Japanese society is and could be

To Watch on YouTube

Prefer to Listen?

Please check out the other episodes, like and subscribe!

Find Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai on your favourite podcast player.

About  Rochelle:

Rochelle is a consultant, author, mentor, educator & board director specializing in global communication, leadership, human resources, & organizational development. She primarily works with Japanese companies with global operations and global firms doing business in Japan, primarily through training seminars, teambuilding, and coaching. Rochelle also keeps busy with several other activities. She writes columns for the Japan Times and several Japanese publications including the Asahi and the Nikkei Sangyo Shimbun, and has published over 35 books on intercultural and management topics. She is an outside board director to two Japanese companies. She is a mentor through 500 Global. And more recently, she has become an activist, spearheading a movement to protect Tokyo’s green oasis Jingu Gaien from a redevelopment plan that would sacrifice a thousand trees and raze two historic stadiums in order to make room for three skyscrapers. Her petition on Change.org has over 195,000 signatures and last year she was named one of Change.org Japan’s Changemakers of the Year.

Connect with Rochelle:

Website: www.japanintercultural.com

Twitter: @Japanintercult in English and @JICRochelle in Japanese

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rochellekopp/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rochelle.kopp/

Petition for Jingu Gaien: https://www.change.org/Save_jingugaien_en

Connect with Jennifer

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

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

Website: https://jennifershinkai.com/

A Lifetime of Ikigai in Rugby, with Koji Tokumasu

On the latest episode of the podcast I’m joined by Koji Tokumasu, who was selected as “one of the most influential 50 members of rugby in the world” by Rugby World (UK) in 2017. Koji was General Manager at the Rugby World Cup 2019 Bid Committee to gain the right for JRFU to host RWC2019, the first time outside of the traditional Unions, AND was the Senior Director at Rugby World Cup 2019 Organising Committee to deliver the most successful Rugby World Cup ever! Join us for this episode as Koji shares with us his enduring love of rugby and how it led him on a journey across the world, and back to Japan to spread that love for rugby here!

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:

  • How Koji went on a journey from Japan to Wales inspired by a love of Welsh rugby
  • The remarkable story of Koji’s involvement in Japan making a bid for the Rugby World Cup leading to success in 2019
  • How Koji adapted to life after the Rugby World Cup after spending so much time working towards that goal
  • Why and how Koji started the Shibuya International Rugby Club
  • How rugby taught him to enjoy playing the game (of life) without just focusing on the end result

To Watch on YouTube

Prefer to Listen?

Please check out the other episodes, like and subscribe!

Find Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai on your favourite podcast player.

About  Koji:

Koji Tokumasu is a visiting professor at Kanda University of International Studies, Special Director at Japan Rugby Football Union, and President of Shibuya International Rugby Club. Koji was the Senior Director at Rugby World Cup 2019 Organising Committee to deliver the most successful Rugby World Cup ever. He was General Manager at the Rugby World Cup 2019 Bid Committee to gain the right for JRFU to host RWC2019, the first time outside of the traditional Unions. Koji was also selected as “one of the most influential 50 members of rugby in the world” by Rugby World (UK) in 2017.

Koji Tokumasu has also held positions as Editor and writer of Sports Department at Nishi Nippon Shimbun (Newspaper with 600,000 daily print run in the Kyushu area), English teacher and Marketing Director at Meikei Gakuen Junior and Senior High School, Editor at Kodansha International Publications Co Ltd, and Head of International Relations/ Marketing/Public Relations/ of Japan Rugby Football Union. Koji has also held honorary positions as Board Member of Asia Rugby, Board Member of World Rugby, Board Member of Japan Rugby Football Union, President of Asia Rugby, Honorary President of Asia Rugby, and Special Director at Japan Rugby Football Union (International relations).

Connect with Koji:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/koji-tokumasu-43369823/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004972381746

Connect with Jennifer

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

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

Website: https://jennifershinkai.com/ 

#IAmRemarkable Upcoming Workshop

#IAmRemarkable Free Online Workshop – June 7, 2023

I am excited to invite you to attend my 4th #IAmRemarkable workshop on Wednesday, June 7th, 2023 at 11:30am to 13:00pm JST via Zoom. Everyone is welcome!

#IAmRemarkable is a global movement that empowers everyone, including underrepresented groups, to celebrate their achievements in the workplace and beyond, while challenging the social perception around self-promotion. Learn more at g.co/iamremarkable

In this interactive session, you will participate in group discussions and exercises to increase your comfort and confidence in self-promotion.During this 90 minute workshop we will:

● reflect on our own limiting beliefs on self-promotion.

● share data and research regarding self-promotion and bias.

● go through the main exercise to help you identify and share your achievements.

● wrap up with discussion and take home exercises.

Neo Kimono Styling and the Ikigai in Evolving Cultural Traditions with Yui Maejima

On the latest episode of Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai we are joined by Yui Maejima. Yui is a Neo Kimono Stylist supporting her clients to find themselves through a new perspective in their kimono. Yui’s first experience with kimono as a child made her never want to wear them again, but then as a young adult she went to the US and through being in another culture began to appreciate being Japanese more. She decided to immerse herself in something uniquely Japanese as a way to explore her cultural identity and express herself, and settled on modern kimono fashion. Through her love of fashion and of being Japanese, Yui found her ikigai in Neo Kimono style and now helps others see themselves in a new light with her styling.

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:

  • How Yui’s first experience with kimono made her not want to ever wear kimono again at 10 years old
  • How being in the USA made her appreciate her Japanese culture and embrace kimono as a way to express a part of her identity as well as her love of fashion
  • About how kimono used to be contemporary daily wear in the past and how that freed Yui up to evolve and modernise kimono in her styling
  • About Yui’s styling business and how it connects to her Ikigai

To Watch on YouTube

Prefer to Listen?

Please check out the other episodes, like and subscribe!

Find Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai on your favourite podcast player.

About  Yui:

Yui Maejima was born and raised in Yokohama, Japan. As a college student she studied information systems in the US for two and half years before returning to Japan and working as a systems engineer. Her experience in the US gave her a new appreciation for Japanese culture and she studied the art of wearing kimono. 

After 7 years as a systems engineer. she pivoted her career into the kimono industry working first in a kimono rental company and then as a freelance kitsukeishi  着付師 (Kimono dresser). Now Yui refers to herself as a Neo Kimono Stylist supporting her clients to find themselves through a new perspective in their kimono.

Things Mentioned in the Episode:

Yui’s client with braided hair: https://www.instagram.com/p/ClwyRLshC9i/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Connect with Yui:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yui_michael/

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

Website: https://michael-yui.com/

Airbnb experience: https://www.airbnb.jp/experiences/48477

Connect with Jennifer

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

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

Website: https://jennifershinkai.com/ 

Ikigai and Achieving Your GOLD with Steve Judge

On the latest episode of Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai we have a truly inspirational guest for you. Steve Judge is a professional speaker, author, and resilience coach, who in 2002 experienced a near fatal car accident and due to his injuries was told he may never walk again. But he decided to fight that prediction and found a passion during his rehabilitation that motivated him. 

Throughout his rehabilitation he kept setting goals for himself and achieving them, from standing and walking, through to running, cycling and Power Triathlons. Eventually Steve became an elite athlete, and in 2011, in Beijing, he crossed the finish line to become world champion in the power triathlon! So if you are looking for motivation and inspiration, especially through setbacks and challenges, this episode is for you.

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:

  • About Steve’s autobiography, Don’t Lean on Your Excuses
  • The near fatal car accident that Steve experienced in 2002
  • How anger and thinking of his future self motivated Steve throughout his rehabilitation
  • How Steve became an elite athlete and two time world champion
  • Why Steve now wants to empower others through motivational speaking
  • Why Steve wears a 5 yen coin, or “go-en”, around his neck

To Watch on YouTube

Prefer to Listen?

Please check out the other episodes, like and subscribe!

Find Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai on your favourite podcast player.

About  Steve:

As a professional speaker, author and resilience coach Steve’s mission is to deliver his story that took him from wheelchair to world champion and beyond. His journey starts with a 5 Yen (Go-En) coin that he was given by a Japanese traveler in 1996. Steve tells his story of how he used this coin and the Japanese concept of Kintsugi to mend his badly broken body and how he feels that he is now on the path to fulfill in his life in relation to his Ikigai.

Things mentioned in the episode:

Sustainable Wellness and Ikigai with Saori Okada

Don’t Lean on Your Excuses book

Connect with Steve:

Contact: i.nspire@steve-judge.co.uk

Website: https://www.steve-judge.co.uk/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SteveJudge 

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevejudgegold/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-judge-908293b1/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SteveJudgeGOLD

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user118912033

Connect with Jennifer

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

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

Website: https://jennifershinkai.com/ 

Ikigai After an Olympic Medal; What’s Next? With Alison Mowbray

Welcome to the latest episode of the podcast. This week I am talking to Alison Mowbray, former Olympic medal winning rower in the British Rowing Team, and current leadership development consultant and coach. Alison initially pursued an academic career in microbiology, got her PhD, became a science teacher… and then tried out for national selection in the British Rowing Team. She’s competed at the Olympics twice and won silver as part of the quad sculls team in 2004. 

After retiring Alison continued to set and achieve her goals that included ultra-marathons, an autobiography, becoming a rowing coach, hiking, dancing tango, and more! Phewf! Join us to hear more about how Alison pursues her goals and what she has learnt about ikigai and her life’s purpose along the way.

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:

  • How Alison pursued an academic path in Science, getting her PhD and becoming a science teacher before making the British Rowing Team at the age of 27
  • How Alison decided what to do next after retiring from international rowing
  • What marathon running taught Alison about how we can limit ourselves by the goals we set
  • About the importance of doing things for yourself rather than always waiting for an external motivation
  • Alison’s advice on not judging what gives your life purpose, or comparing it to other people’s

To Watch on YouTube

Prefer to Listen?

Please check out the other episodes, like and subscribe!

Find Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai on your favourite podcast player.

About Alison:

Alison was on the British Rowing team for seven years and competed in five World Championships and two Olympic Games. Not being particularly sporty at school and having not even stepped in a boat until she went to Liverpool University at the age of 18, Alison then kept rowing on the back burner for many years while she pursued an academic career. Having achieved a 1st Class degree in Microbiology from Liverpool and a PhD in Molecular Microbiology from Cambridge University, Alison moved to London to train as a science teacher and attempt National selection. She made the British Rowing team that year at the age of 27. Two years later, she achieved last minute qualification for the Sydney 2000 Olympics, where she finished 10th in the single sculls event. 

Alison worked part-time as a science teacher while training full-time towards the Athens Olympics and in 2004, at the age of 33 and in the last race of her career achieved an Olympic silver medal in the final of the quad sculls. 

Retiring from international sport, Alison was a science teacher for several years alongside a developing career in Inspirational Speaking. She now works as a Leadership Development Consultant and Coach, hikes long-distance trails, runs marathons and ultra-marathons, dances tango and sings in a local choir. Alison also still coaches rowing, including to local children in Zambia in 2022.Alison wrote and published her autobiography: Gold Medal Flapjack. Silver Medal Life in 2013 and is currently finishing a Science/Lifestyle book called The 10 Healthy Habits.

Things mentioned in the episode:

Photo of Alison running Ironman

Connect with Alison:

Autobiography: Gold Medal Flapjack. Silver Medal Life

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alison-mowbray-33b36a13

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alisonmowbray.feelinginspired/

Connect with Jennifer:

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

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

Website: https://jennifershinkai.com/ 

The Ikigai in Going with the Flow, with James Nepaulsingh

On the latest episode of the podcast I chat to the multi-talented James Nepaulsingh. James is a lawyer, executive coach, painter, music producer and host of the Plus Future Podcast! James joins us to discuss his ikigai and we have a great discussion about his approaches to life and to pursuing new hobbies and learning new things. Listen to the episode and get inspired to treat life as an experiment and break out of any box you feel you may be stuck in!

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:

  • How to do more of the things you enjoy
  • What led James to pursue abstract art
  • The importance of protecting yourself from negative people
  • What being remarkable means to James
  • James’ advice to listeners for 2023

To Watch on YouTube

Prefer to Listen?

Please check out the other episodes, like and subscribe!

Find Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai on your favourite podcast player.

About  James:

James is a multipotentialite: a lawyer, executive coach, painter, music producer and podcaster. He graduated from Oxford University and the Royal College of Art and was awarded a coaching certification from Cambridge University. He holds two board positions in Japan and lectures law part-time at Japan’s top-ranking universities. 

He is Senior Legal Counsel at one of Japan’s best-known institutions. He uses his fine art background to approach the corporate world through a creative corporate design lens. In the art world, he regularly holds exhibitions in Tokyo and London. His works have recently been displayed at a virtual exhibition that took place during a private event organised at the National Gallery, London.

James is accredited as an Associate Certified Coach by the International Coaching Federation and a Mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution.

James is British and is of Trinidadian origin.

Things Mentioned in the Episode:

If you want to see James’ art for yourself you can purchase your own copy of James’ art book, All Of Me, with half of the proceeds going to Refugee Empowerment International. Check out the links below!

Japan: https://amzn.asia/d/fvWWPYn

UK: https://amzn.eu/d/2IwLBl4

US: https://a.co/d/4zvkI9s

Connect with James:

James’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nepopublic/

Plus Future Coaching Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plusfuturecoaching/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nepotek1

Plus Future Podcast: https://plusfuturepodcast.com/

Connect with Jennifer:

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

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

Website: https://jennifershinkai.com/

Ikigai and Mental Wealth with Maurice Rabb

Trigger Warning/Content Warning: 

In this episode of the podcast, we talk about mental health, mental illness, as well as suicide ideation. We don’t go deep into the topic, but we just wanted to let you know that that is what is coming up in case it is something which might trigger you. So, I hope that you will enjoy the episode today and if you are struggling in any way, please do reach out to your local provider of mental support services.

Show Notes:

This week on the podcast I talk to Maurice Rabb. Maurice is a member of the Tokyo English Lifeline Japan Executive Board, he’s also a California licensed attorney, professional development and strategy consultant, diversity and inclusion strategist, career coach, and a legal tech evangelist. 

In the episode we discuss the work TELL Japan has been doing for the last 50 years and how it has been helping people through these times of increased stress and anxiety, especially during the pandemic. We also discuss some personal instances of mental health challenges and Maurice has some great advice on becoming Mentally Wealthy!

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:

  • How Maurice’s involvement with mental wellness services started in junior high through a peer to peer program called the Natural Helpers Program
  • What led Maurice to become involved with TELL, Tokyo English Lifeline Japan
  • The sorts of challenges people are facing over the pandemic the TELL has been helping with
  • How mental health is a continuum with many different layers of varying degrees, and you don’t need to wait until things get really serious to reach out for help
  • How to access resources for mental wellness at work and why leaders should educate themselves on what resources are available for their team members
  • Advice to parents about looking after your own mental health

To Watch on YouTube

Prefer to Listen?

Please check out the other episodes, like and subscribe!

Find Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai on your favourite podcast player.

About  Maurice:

Maurice L. Rabb has been a TELL Japan Executive Board Member for several years. He is a California licensed attorney, professional development and strategy consultant, diversity & inclusion strategist, career coach, and legal tech evangelist.

He has been living and working in Asia for more than 15 years. During his time in Asia, Maurice has worked for U.S. and Japanese law firms as an international business lawyer and human resources professional and for a global education Non-Profit Organization. 

Things mentioned in the episode:

Tell Japan website: https://telljp.com/

Mental Health Pyramid video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aXFzDyuALI

Connect with Maurice:

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauricelrabb/

Website:  http://www.mauricelrabb.com/

Connect with Jennifer

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

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

Website: https://jennifershinkai.com/

Ikigai-Kan and The Return of Nicholas Kemp

This week on the podcast we have a returning guest, Nicholas Kemp, who we interviewed back in Season 1 Episode 18. Nick Kemp is a podcast host, Japanologist, Ikigai expert, solopreneur, and now author of the wonderful book on ikigai called IKIGAI-KAN: Feel a Life Worth Living.

Join us as we discuss Nick’s journey of writing the book and pick Nick’s brain on all things 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:

  • What Ikigai-Kan is and how it differs from Ikigai
  • How writing the book taught Nick to embrace his limitations
  • Nick’s ideas around self-actualisation and self-acceptance and how they relate to being an author
  • The importance of celebrating your achievements within yourself first, before waiting for external validation
  • What to do when your ikigai is challenged by other people

To Watch on YouTube

Prefer to Listen?

Please check out the other episodes, like and subscribe!

Find Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai on your favourite podcast player.

About Nicholas:

Nicholas Kemp is a father, husband, Japanologist, researcher, solopreneur, and author of IKIGAI-KAN: Feel a Life Worth Living. He is the founder and head coach of Ikigai Tribe, a small community of educators, psychologists, coaches, and trainers who serve their personal communities using the ikigai concept. 

Links of things mentioned in the episode:

Jess Wade Wikipedia editor 

Season 1 Episode 18 episode with Nicholas

Kookaburra Picture:

Connect with Nicholas:

IKIGAI-KAN book: https://ikigaikan.com/

Ikigai Tribe website: https://ikigaitribe.com/

Twitter: @NicholasKemp

Connect with Jennifer

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

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

Website: https://jennifershinkai.com/

Celebrating Collaboration and Creativity

Very late to thank everyone who supported the launch of Gus at our event in July 2022.

David Sweet read an extract and ended on a great cliffhanger, Catherine O’Connell did an amazing job as the moderator and led a lively discussion and Q&A and according to Jonathan Cant‘s photos I mostly pulled strange faces.

Allow me to quote Catherine’s write up from LinkedIn here

“This was no “ordinary” book launch. We didn’t go into how to write a book nor give advice how to market and sell your book.

What this book launch did was give attendees a peek behind the curtain at the #process of how two artists collaborated whimsically yet deliberately, how they had targets but also worked in the bubble of freedom, and how they had certainty, yet also very much trusted their respective guts.

David and Jen are two people who knew each other for years. They never envisioned that they would work together in this particular way to craft a book together. Through this creative collaboration process they found joy + a realization that there truly is the “gift of timing” in when collaboration comes to life, which in this case, enabled a hidden-away poem to bloom into published reality. They believe that sharing about their creative process, will enable you to also find your “other” as #SethGodin calls it; another person to collaborate with to create your own joyful collaborative project.

Themes we covered were:
✅ Sharing your work in progress publically
✅ Being comfortable to show up as multifaceted people
✅ Making an offer and exploring interests
✅ Saying yes when asked to collaborate
✅ Having boundaries and also having flexibility  
✅ Book themes of #silentbystander#discrimination#bullying

You can get your own copy of Gus here on amazon or perhaps you would like to read my 1st book “Can Giraffes Swim?”

Already got both? Thank you! Do leave a 5 star review and follow me on instagram @jennifershinkai where I am sharing the process of development for my next book and my #arteveryday WIP