Oh hi. What’s high? I’m Mr. Beat, and I’ll tell you what’s high.
The life expectancy in Japan.
The oldest living person in the world currently is Kane Tanaka, a Japanese resident who is 118
years old. Here is a picture of her at 20 years old. Yeah, that picture was taken in 1923.
Feel young yet? Kane has said she credits family, sleep, hope, eating good food,
and practicing math problems as all the reasons why she has lived so long. But here’s the thing.
It’s not just Kane sticking around for a long time in Japan. This seems to be a trend there.
The average lifespan there is currently 84.3. That’s the highest of all countries
in the entire world. For females in Japan, it’s an astonishing 86.9. There are now more than
80,000 Japanese residents who are older than 100. Okinawa, Japan, has the highest number
of residents over 100 in the world, as well as the lowest risk of age-related diseases.
So why is the life expectancy so high in Japan? Diet and exercise, duh. (roll eyes)
But actually, no. There’s some evidence that shows they don’t exercise more in
Japan than other countries, and while diet is a major factor,
it’s not the only one. Here are the main reasons why the life expectancy is so high in Japan.
#1 They Never Really Retire
Older folks in Japan tend to live with more purpose after they retire. They tend to be
more involved in the local community, spend more time around younger family members,
and work by choice, rather than economic necessity. They also tend to stay active.
#2 They Prioritize Public Health Overall, Japan has invested heavily
in public health for hundreds of years. From childhood vaccination programs, to universal
healthcare, to public service campaigns calling for citizens to regularly check their blood
pressure and reduce salt consumption. In Japan, regular check-ups are very common.
Going back before the twentieth century, Japan was ahead of the curve with hygiene,
with regular bathing and a clean water supply before it was cool. The indigenous religion
of Shinto definitely influenced this call for physical cleanliness, by the way. It’s
not just personal hygiene. Almost everything in Japan is well known for its cleanliness.
#3 It’s All About The Social Cohesion, Baby Communitarianism is big in Japan. There is a
strong group orientation there, which some experts argue gives them a deeper sense of belongingness
to society. This gives them higher self-esteem, which in turn gives them a more positive outlook,
which ultimately leads to living longer. #4 There Is Less of a Hierarchy In Japan
A big reason why there is more social cohesion in Japan is because some
research shows that there is more equality in Japan compared to most other countries.
Sure, there are still social hierarchies, but it’s more common in Japan for folks at different
parts of the hierarchy to regularly interact and be friends with each other. In addition,
folks there at different parts of the hierarchy tend to share the same values.
#5 Um, Yeah, They Eat Well But yeah, a big reason why Japanese
residents live longer is because they tend to eat better. At least one study found that there
are lower rates of heart disease and cancer there because of a lower intake of red meat.
Specifically, Japanese residents tend to eat less saturated fatty acids, but more of the good
fatty acids found in fish, plant foods, and green tea. That same study also found lower rates of
brain-related diseases due to moderate increases in animal and dairy consumption combined with
decreases in salt consumption. Less than 5% of Japanese residents are considered obese.
In general, folks in Japan eat more of the healthier meat, more stuff with antioxidants,
more fermented foods, and in less portions overall. Basically, they eat more fish,
leafy vegetables, and soybean products, and less red meat.
Other reasons for such a high life expectancy in Japan possibly include just genetic factors,
and obviously Japan just being one of the wealthiest countries in the world overall.
But to recap, the big five secrets to longevity in Japan are never really retiring, everyone there
being on board with public health, feeling like they belong to a tight-knit community,
ignoring the social hierarchy with day-to-day interactions, and...oh yeah...eating healthy.
So if the rest of the world wants to live longer, we can learn from Japan. (eats a giant wad
of spinach) The things I do for my videos.
Hey and guess what this video is sponsored by Baksu a monthly snack box subscription service
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so how long do you want to live i want to live to 142 but first i got to get to 42 am i right
anyway if you're from japan i especially want to hear from you what do you think about all this eh
let me know in those comments and thank you for watching