The Hanami Podcast, Episode [#1]

This is the companion post to this week’s podcast episode. Pour something warm, get comfortable, and consider this your permission slip to start planning a slower kind of adventure.

In this episode I talked about something close to my heart right now: cozy travel. Not the highlight-reel kind of trip — not fighting for a photo spot at a ‘Famous Thing’ or powering through an itinerary just to say you did it. I mean the kind of trip where you actually breathe. Where your kid loses her mind over an alpaca and you feel something loosen in your chest.

Our most recent trip was to Mother Farm in Chiba — and more specifically, to a glamping site called Green Base just off the main property. Here’s everything you need to know:

💌 read more slow & thoughtful reflections here

🌸 follow my day-to-day life @itskellymorita on Insta

More to explore on Hanami:

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In this episode of Bloom & Thrive, I sit down with Saori Okada, founder of Mogami Wellness, to explore the true meaning of ikigai — and why the popular Venn diagram is missing the heart of this beautiful Japanese concept.

This conversation was from a couple years back but still relevant today!

Ikigai has become a global buzzword, often presented as the intersection of passion, talent, income, and impact. But is that really what it means?

Saori shares her perspective as someone born and raised in Japan, offering cultural nuance, personal reflections, and a deeper understanding of what ikigai actually represents.

This conversation gently challenges the productivity-driven version of purpose and invites us back to something quieter, more human, and more sustainable.

🌿 In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Where the Ikigai Venn diagram originated — and why it’s often misunderstood

• The linguistic meaning of iki (life) and gai (worth/value)

• Why ikigai isn’t just about career fulfillment

• How Western self-development culture reshaped the concept

• The internal vs. external search for meaning

• Why ikigai can be small, subtle, and seasonal

• How to approach purpose without pressure

• Ikigai as a daily practice rather than a grand life mission

🌸 Key Takeaways

• Ikigai is less about finding the perfect job and more about cultivating a life that feels worth living.

• Meaning does not need to be monetized to be valid.

• Your ikigai can shift throughout different seasons of life.

• Small daily joys can hold just as much weight as big ambitions.

• Purpose is something you grow into — not something you solve.

🌷 A Reflection to Sit With

Instead of asking:
“What is my one true purpose?”

Try asking:
“What makes my life feel meaningful right now?”

That may be closer to ikigai than any diagram.

🌼 About Our Guest

Saori Okada is the founder of Mogami Wellness, a Japanese-inspired wellness brand rooted in longevity, mindfulness, and authenticity. Through her work, she helps individuals and organizations cultivate wellbeing from the inside out.