Reflections on "You Don't Need 'Ikigai' for Work" (by Daisuke Kaname and Takamasa Sakai)

A book published by SB Creative in December 2025. The subtitle is "30 Years of Survey Data Reveal the Reality of Gen Z," and it analyzes the work values, consumer behavior, romantic views, and communication characteristics of Gen Z based on long-term observational survey data.

Below, I would like to summarize the points that left a particular impression on me (〇) and my thoughts on them (■).

〇 Which items have increased in evaluation as ideal workplaces for new employees over the past 10 years?

(1) Lively (2) Homey (3) Respecting each other's individuality (4) Helping each other

■ It is likely (3) and (4). (1) is easily avoided, and (2) can sometimes be perceived as "entanglement." However, I also feel that if that "entanglement" can be perceived as a loose connection like a club activity, it is supported by some students.

〇 For most young people, "respecting individuality" means "not denying or criticizing anything at all."

■ I found this very convincing. I think it also overlaps with the values I have seen in songs by Mrs. GREEN APPLE such as "Boku no Koto," "Ao to Natsu," "StaRt," "Que Sera Sera," and "Lilac."

〇 Does it mean "by respecting the individual, I want to become a one-of-a-kind existence"? No, unfortunately, that is not the case.

■ I personally wished it were so, but it seems that is not the case. The value of "trying to become a one-of-a-kind existence" reminds me of SMAP's 2002 song "Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana." On the other hand, what resonates with current students is likely the worldview of Mrs. GREEN APPLE. I feel that values have changed significantly over the past 20 years or so.

〇 Most young people today do not seek passion or leadership from their bosses.

■ This is something I have felt vaguely for a long time. This is because I sometimes feel that my own enthusiasm is spinning its wheels. One reason they don't seek it is the pressure that they would also have to work hard, and because they don't see them as role models. Even so, I value showing passion when necessary. This is because I believe it definitely resonates with some young people, and I feel a danger in losing passion itself just because it is "not sought after."

〇 "Companies where I can do the work I want to do" and "companies worth working for" are on a downward trend.

■ Indeed, among the students I interact with, many prioritize "companies where I can work with mental stability" or "companies with good conditions such as salary and holidays" over "the work I want to do." However, I believe that the realization that the organization or local community is becoming better through one's own thoughts and actions is what leads to work worth doing and ikigai. Also, if one chooses a company based only on conditions, I have doubts about whether the feeling of "let's do something about it" will arise when business performance deteriorates.

〇 Young people in Osaka today do not dive themselves, but go to watch those who do. (Hanshin victory, 5,000 people diving into Dotonbori -> 26 people)

■ This is a very easy-to-understand example. It compares the number of people diving into Dotonbori during the Hanshin League championships in 2003 and 2023, and it symbolizes the behavioral changes over these 20 years. Rather than performing dangerous actions themselves, they turn to the side of recording it with their smartphones. I feel an increase in the orientation toward safety and stability.

〇 I want to be in a comfortable position rather than carrying responsibility. It is not just young people who aspire to such a way of working.

■ The expressions "mellowed 50-somethings" and "young people who were mellow from the start" came to mind. That might indeed be true. Even around me, from young people to veterans, the feeling of wanting to do work without taking risks (if possible, following the previous year) and getting through it safely without making waves is palpable. Even so, the reason I can continue to take risks is probably because I am in a position with a certain degree of freedom. I am grateful for my current environment where I can challenge myself with new things while being in a relatively comfortable position.

〇 The experiment begins. The observation point is who reaches for the bottled beer first.

■ I had a similar experience just recently. It was a paid volunteer project with 8 students (about half were meeting for the first time), and during the waiting time, I placed individually wrapped snacks and paper plates in the center of the table, told them to "eat while introducing yourselves," and left the room. When I returned 20 minutes later, although they were chatting, no one had touched the snacks. Who will open the seal first, and how will they share it? I felt that students who can take that first step are in the minority.

〇 Currently, the most active exchange of gifts is between friends of the same sex.

■ The students around me are the same. The background likely includes knowing the other person's preferences, wanting to avoid prying into romantic matters, and a desire to maintain friendships.

○ Young people with a strong desire to avoid rejection

■ "Desire to avoid rejection" refers to a state of high anxiety about being denied or opposed by those around them. As a result, they tend to seek "excuses" for their actions. When I ask students who do volunteer work why they do it, they overwhelmingly explain it by saying "a friend invited me" or "I had some free time" rather than "I wanted to try it." In reality, it is probably a mix of both, but they seem to choose reasons (excuses) that are easier to explain to others.

○ The truth behind the move away from romance is a move away from "more than friends, less than lovers"

■ "More than friends, less than lovers" is also famous as the catchphrase for the 1991 Toyota Cynos. While young people at the time formed such relationships for reasons like "I don't want to ruin our current relationship," "I'm afraid of being rejected," or "I'm not sure if I really like them," I feel that young people today tend to avoid such ambiguous relationships. This is likely linked to their desire to avoid instability and their desire to avoid rejection.

○ Changes in romantic views regarding expectations of "a friend of a friend"

■ The moment I read this part, the melody of Kohmi Hirose's "Romance no Kamisama" played in my head. At that time, there was a culture of placing high expectations on "a friend of a friend." However, now, both the person introducing and the person being introduced may feel more risk, and such opportunities themselves may be decreasing.

○ Japanese people don't cooperate because they get along well, but because they fear the consequences if they don't, so they conform.

■ Looking at schools, PTAs, and neighborhood associations, there is certainly that aspect. On the other hand, there are also actions like the trash collection by Japanese supporters seen at the FIFA World Cup venues. I feel that a society where independent individuals can bring their strengths together out of intrinsic motivation and think "let's do something good" is more desirable, and I want to strive for that.

○ Young people today prioritize mental stability.

■ What I felt throughout this book is that many phenomena are concentrated in this one point. They don't take risks to avoid failure. They avoid passionate bosses. They want to know the correct answer quickly. They suppress emotional expression. I think there is a value system that prioritizes mental stability above all else behind these behaviors.

Throughout the book

What I felt while reading this book is that"stability over challenge," "peace of mind over passion," and "not being denied over expressing individuality"have become key keywords for understanding the values of modern young people.

On the other hand, that is precisely why I also hope that the value of challenge and passion is not lost. While I understand the desire for stability, I want to support those who take a step forward themselves and try to make their organization or society even a little better. In that sense, this book was not only a book for understanding young people, but also one that gave me an opportunity to rethink my own way of working and my own values.