A reason for being: How Japanese culture and Milwaukee’s Muslim community connect through ikigai

Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition (MMWC) hosted its October 31 Networking Brunch with a special guest, Sae Iino, the Japan Outreach Initiative coordinator at the International Institute of Wisconsin (IIW).

The event centered on sumi-e, the traditional Japanese practice of black-ink painting, and introduced participants to the broader philosophy of ikigai, a concept that describes purpose and meaning found in daily life.

The art session portion of the program opened with a history of how sumi-e developed in Japan, and what it meant to Japanese culture over the centuries. Using brushes, water, and black ink, participants practiced forming simple lines and shapes, before making more complex paintings.

Iino explained that the art emphasizes calm attention and intention rather than perfecti