JOURNAL ARTICLE

Ikigai and saudade, cultural meanings lived through the body.

  • Published In: Culture & Psychology, 2025, v. 31, n. 2. P. 697 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: de Almeida, Igor; Rodrigues, Jamila 3 of 3

Abstract

This article investigates culture-specific emotions as embodied experiences, focusing on saudade from Portuguese-speaking cultures and ikigai from Japanese culture. It argues that beyond linguistic and cognitive aspects, these emotions involve a bodily dimension where feelings are experienced through the body-mind relationship, such as sensations in the heart, chest, or belly. Drawing on literature and participant narratives, the study highlights how saudade and ikigai are culturally embedded phenomena that manifest through somatic responses and symbolic bodily expressions. The authors suggest that understanding embodiment enriches the study of culturally specific emotions and has implications for psychology, clinical practice, and other fields engaging with cultural and emotional experiences.

Additional Information

  • Source:Culture & Psychology. 2025/06, Vol. 31, Issue 2, p697
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Religion and Philosophy
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:1354-067X
  • DOI:10.1177/1354067X241263451
  • Accession Number:185414131
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