Ready to let ikigai rock your world?

In this episode of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Sunplaza Nakano Kun to explore how his music captures the spirit of ikigai and inspires his fans.

Sunplaza Nakano Kun is a Japanese musician, writer, and singer for the band BAKUFU- SLUMP (爆風スランプ). Beyond his music career, he has also worked as a radio personality and author—a man of many talents.

What happens when a rebellious spirit, global traveler, and guardian of traditional crafts answers an unexpected call to monastic life? Tosei Shinabe's remarkable journey from law student to Zen Buddhist monk unfolds through this intimate conversation, revealing profound insights about freedom, observation, and living authentically.

Growing up questioning authority and societal expectations, Shinabe followed a path that led through formal legal education, travels across twenty countries, and immersion in Kyoto's traditional craft community before finding his calling in Zen Buddhism. Despite never planning to become a monk, a simple invitation from a temple priest changed the trajectory of his life, leading to eight years of rigorous training and a complete transformation of his worldview.

Shinabe dispels common misconceptions about Zen meditation, explaining that zazen isn't about emptying the mind but creating space for deep contemplation of life's essential questions. "We should think about death until we are satisfied with our own answer," he shares, emphasizing how this practice liberates us from mental constraints. Through his teachings and creation of boundary stones (kekkai seki), he encourages people to pause and reflect: "What is your life? Why am I living now?"

Perhaps most powerful is his insight that while we cannot choose how we're born, we can choose how to live. In his view, ikigai (life purpose) emerges from making convinced choices rather than following prescribed paths. The Zen concept of "Nikon" (just now) reminds us that only the present moment truly exists – "There is no past, there is no future. Past things and future things are just in your head."

Join this conversation to discover how ancient Zen wisdom meets contemporary life, and how observation of reality can free us from the prisons we create in our own minds.

What can a single sip of tea reveal?

In this episode of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Dairik Amae on how the simple act of drinking tea can become a doorway to stillness.