抄録
This paper focuses on “sense of Ikigai” and social support shown in the peoples' response data obtained from the Asia Pacific Values Survey 11countries/areas. Although researchers have not yet agreed on a single definition of the term Ikigai, a very common word in Japanese, for the purposes of this study I tentatively use the term “reason for living” to mean Ikigai. The results show that Japan, South Korea, and the Chinese cultural sphere share common relationships, in contrast to the United States and India. In particular, in East Asian countries both emotional and appraisal support have impacts on perceived reason for living. In other words, a sense of social bond with others and receiving praise and acknowledgment are factors contributing to a sense of Ikigai in those countries.
