Host: The Association of Japanese Geographers
Name : Annual Meeting of the Association of Japanese Geographers, Spring 2023
Date : March 25, 2023 - March 27, 2023
1. Introduction
In recent years, there has been a growing discussion about well-being in Japan (Well-being Report Japan 2022). There are two approaches to well-being, which originated in Greek culture such as Aristotle. While the hedonic approach focuses on short-term happiness and defines well-being as the attainment of pleasure and the avoidance of pain, the eudaimonic approach defines well-being as the degree to which one is functioning well (Ryan and Deci, 2001). While research on this trend has been active in the English-speaking world since the 2000s (Huta, 2015; Ryff, 2023), it is very limited in Japan (Asano et al., 2014; Okabe, 2015; Nishaat & Magaki, 2020; Kono et al., 2018). It is thought that it is desirable to analyze from this perspective the changes in attitudes regarding life and work styles seen and the intention to leave Tokyo during the period of COVID-19. The purpose of this research is to organize research on eudaimonic well-being (EWB), focusing on tourism and entrepreneurship (EP), and to explore the possibility of its application in geography.
2. Eudaimonic tourism
Filep et al. (2017) apply EWB to tourism and discuss positive tourism based on EWB. Filep & Laing (2018) reviewed research trends in positive tourism and recommend eudaimonic tourism experiences. Lengieza et al. (2019) measured eudaimonic travel experience, and Volo (2016) examines the effect of tourism on islanders' EWB. Other studies have been conducted to examine the relationship between the eudaimonic and the hedonic well-being(Lee & Jeong, 2019; Su et al., 2020).
3. Eudaimonic Entrepreneurship
Østergaard et al. (2018) discussed the dimensions of EWB in the process of EP. Wilkund et al. (2019) reviewed researches on EP and EWB, and Shir & Ryff (2021) presented a dynamic approach for EP self-organization. Ryff (2019) pointed out five venues for research on entrepreneurship and EWB: (1) autonomy, (2) varieties, (3) entrepreneurial journey, (4) health, and (5) entrepreneurs and the eudaimonia of others -contrasting virtuous and vicious types.
4. Eudaimonic Wellbeing and Geography
In geography, Wang & Wang (2016 ) reviewed researches on subjective well-being. research by , Weckroth et al.(2015) treated EWB and indWe are conducting research on Bonaluto et al.(2016) examined the place identity and EWB as a psychological research.
5. Conclusion
Ryff (2023) cites (1) heterogeneity, (2) art, and (3) entrepreneurship as directions for future research development of EWB based on the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. Future geographic research on EWB will include understanding of geographical differences in EWB, and also elucidating various geographical milieu influencing EWB as an influencing factor on the success of tourism and entrepreneurship. The eudaimonic concept, which is related to the intellectual origins of Western culture, is a blind spot for the Japanese, but it provides a necessary and important perspective for the contemporary world and the situation in Japan, and contributes to the development of geographic research.
