Well-Being Expert to Speak at PLAYCE Talk Near Fukui Station

On Wednesday, April 30, 2025, a talk event titled PLAY TALK will be held at PLAYCE, a multipurpose complex in front of Fukui Station. The guest speaker will be Dr. Yoshiki Ishikawa, a leading expert in well-being research.

PLAY TALK is a monthly event hosted at PLAYCE, where guests explore their ongoing projects from multiple perspectives. The goal is to provide participants with insights and inspiration by sharing the guests’ experiences and key turning points.

This ninth edition of the series takes on the theme: “Why We Should Be Focusing on Well-Being Right Now.” Dr. Yoshiki Ishikawa, a preventive medicine researcher studying well-being both in Japan and abroad, will share his thoughts on why well-being deserves our attention today.

The event runs from 7:30 to 9:00 PM (doors open at 7:10 PM). Admission is ¥2,000 for the general public and ¥1,000 for university and high school students. Tickets are available through Peatix.

While the concept of well-being has recently begun to influence public policy in municipalities across the Hokuriku region, the event is designed to be enjoyable even for those who still find themselves wondering, “So… what is well-being?”

(Editorial Notes: We keep hearing about “well-being” these days. In a world where so many people seem desperate for validation, this event might help us reconsider what it means to be genuinely fulfilled. And seriously, PLAY TALK always has such great content—it’s hard not to be envious! – Takei, Development Producer

Well-being has become a buzzword lately. It almost feels like the new SDGs—say it and no one will argue with you. But a lot of people using the term don’t understand it, right? It’s important to take the time to grasp what it means. Maybe this event is the perfect opportunity to do just that. – Akashi, Producer.

Honestly, when someone smiles and starts talking about well-being, I get this wicked urge to say something snarky. But when you start thinking about the evolutionary and genetic roots of happiness, you realize that many conditions that make people feel happy are surprisingly universal. Instead of hiding behind the cliché “Happiness is different for everyone,” it’s worth exploring the idea that common conditions for happiness do exist—and that we should be working to create them as a society. Being with people you love and getting recognition for your work are some things that make many people happy. They might serve as evolutionary “carrots” that have helped humanity survive and thrive. – Sakamoto, Editor-in-Chief)

Story: Mai Takahashi
Editing and translating: Masayoshi Sakamoto