Author

Nicholas Kemp

Nicholas Kemp is a father, husband, Japanologist, researcher, solopreneur, and author of IKIGAI-KAN: Feel a Life Worth Living. He is the founder and head coach of Ikigai Tribe, a small community of educators, psychologists, coaches, and trainers who serve their personal communities using the ikigai concept. 

A week-long trip to Tokyo in 1977 at the age of five left a lasting impression on Nick that would eventually see him return to Japan eighteen years later. After being awarded a one-year restaurant management traineeship with one of Japan's largest restaurant chains in 1995, Nick fell in love with Japan (again) and ended up living there for 10 years. Discovering his entrepreneurial spirit in Japan, Nick established his own English conversation school and developed his own audio language learning program.

Since his return to Melbourne in 2008, Nick has operated several educational and marketing businesses. His web design skills saw him become a two-time finalist in the Webdesign International Festival (WIF) in Limoges, France in 2008 and 2010. And his understanding of the Japanese language and culture helped serve Nick as a consultant for companies wishing to expand their business to Japan. 

He now trains educators, psychologists, coaches, and professionals with his Ikigai Coach certification program. His program is supported by many of Japan’s leading ikigai authorities who are contributors to his certification program and appear as regular guests on his podcast. Nick’s ultimate goal is to share the wonders of Japan to a global audience, and he also hopes to respectfully remind Japanese of what a fascinating and unique culture they have access to.

Nick is an amateur guitarist and aspiring musician still hoping to one day live the rockstar dream. A lover of learning, he has recently taken up the Shakuhachi, much to the frustration of his wife and son. He often shares cuddles and purrs with his cat as sharing cuddles with his wife and son have become increasingly rare.

He spends his time between Melbourne and Japan when not stuck in a pandemic and sees himself retiring in Japan where he will continue his ikigai of researching Japanese culture.