7 Healthy Habits in Japan🇯🇵

ABOUT THIS VIDEO:
Hi. I'm Aki, a minimalist who is a school teacher living in a small village in Japan.
Today I would like to share seven healthy Japanese habits with you because many of my foreign friends asked me many times

”Why are Japanese people so healthy and have long lifespans?”

From my point of view, I also was to recognize that Japan has other various problems within its society and daily life such as natural disasters, death by fatigue from overworking, and suicide.

But there are also good traits and habits of Japanese culture that contribute to the healthy and long lifespan of its citizens.
Here are seven healthy Japanese habits that I can think of.
So let’s get started.

WHO AM I:
Welcome to samurai matcha journey! I'm Aki, a minimalist, kimono style school teacher in Japan. I make videos about my usual life in really country side of Japan. You can enjoy beautiful scenery, learn about Japan, and pick up some interesting lifestyle tips.

REFERENCES:

MUSIC:
・Epidemic Sound▶︎Sleepy + Hungry - baegel

WHAT I LIKE:
Minimal lifestyle
Matcha
Kimono
Anime(Ghibli)
Japanese food

CONNECT WITH ME:

[thetorontogirl]

The fact that Japanese bathtubs are deeper is something I noticed that makes a big difference. When you sit in a North American bath that are put into apartments you get cold because you can't fully submerge your body.

[anshikasingh]

I really like how japanese don't have that "servant system" Unless you are super duper clean their classes labs basically what ever they use, it's very important to teach children that there is no shame in cleaning your own house, class, school even neighbour hood

[DLC]

One thing that strikes me about the Japanese is that everything seems to be art and nature. Everything seems to have a refined aesthetic and ties into the surrounding nature. Incredible really.

[katarzynadunn]

I drink matcha daily for over 3 years and people can't tell my age. I am 42 years old and when I tell people that I 15 years old daughter they give me max 35 years. But most of people think I am 26-28 years old. I love Japanese food, lots of seaweed, feed your thyroid, good metabolism. I am Polish and we eat lots lots of fermented food daily. Home cood food is my favorite. Great tips thank you.

[alfredcastaneda]

1. Daily Bath
2. Cleaning
3. Exercise
4. Getting up early
5. Japanese food
6. Drinking matcha
7. Hiking mountains

[Sunny-qolt]

We NEED our kids to get into the habit of cleaning at an early age. In America so many kids have messy rooms or don't know how to clean that well.

[deborahlazreug]

As a French person, I notice quite a few similar habits! I live in the South of France, therefore between the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea. We have a habit of waking up early to go swim in the sea (even in the winter), even though young people aren’t as inclined. We also hike mountains! As a region which was deeply influenced by the Romans in the past, we also have a culture of taking baths, warm and cold. Our food is also known to be very healthy, based on fresh, local vegetables and fish. To this day, you will see older people exercise everyday, too. We aren’t as particular with cleanliness though! I wish we were! It’s fascinating to learn about other cultures. And even more fascinating when it feels like we’re different, but not so different at the same time. I loved this video!

[junaidahmed]

I loved the habit of kids cleaning at school at very young age and loved the way cleanliness is prioritized !

[shivanigupta]

1. Take proper bath daily
2. Live in clean environment
3. Daily exercise is important
4. Follow the natural biological clock as getting up early in the morning
5.Take a proper nutritional balanced diet for your body to maintain the metabolism
6. The habit of trekking

😊 Hope this saves your time

[gizellelouis]

If more countries would adopt the habit of cleaning, the world would be a better place.
It doesn't require an abundance of water, just a will to be clean.

[kelleywyskiel]

I feel like I am becoming a better human just from watching your videos and making better choices every day.

[patrycjainlondon]

I am not Japanese, but I love your country's philosophy. I was lucky to be able to visit your country a few years ago and I have loved it. I love the traditional way of eating and I do follow the habits of healthy living. I enjoy your videos. Thank you

[judyb]

I only have an opinion from an American perspective but I am willing to bet 80% of their health benefits come from diet and movement. The meals look super fresh and healthy. The American diet is generally atrocious - huge portions of processed food. These videos are very inspirational - thank you!

[chelseymichelle]

As an American from the south, it is not much different. As we all know our food is known to be unhealthy, processed, and over abundant, but in my family we had our garden as do alot of rural people in south and traded with each other. My grandma got up 4:00 in the morning and did stretches. She sewed and cleaned the house every day as well as attending her garden. She passed in Jan just before her 99th peacefully in her sleep 💔❤️

[vsharmishtha]

This should be made global. That kids should be taught cleaning not just home but surroundings

[ellenful]

I love ❤️ getting up early before the sun is over the horizon. It’s dark. I light a candle and prepare my morning coffee. I take my first sip with a feeling of gratitude 🙏 that I get to be alive one ☝️ more day.

[sori]

0:49 *First, the habit of taking a bath daily.*

In Japan, there are more than 3000 hot spring areas. Public baths are everywhere in the city, and bathtubs are basically installed in every house. Japanese people love taking baths, even the monkeys too. And I also love it too, and basically I always enjoy lounging in the bath. I think this habit of taking a bath is a big reason why Japanese people can stay physically healthy. I think there are three main reasons. The *first* is that it warms your body, which has the effect of helping your muscles relax. *Second*, water pressure within the bath helps improve metabolism as well as excretes toxins within the body. *Thirdly*, because being in water allows your body to float, the pressure on bones and muscles are reduced, which helps to relieve back pain and stiff shoulders.

When I lived in Canada and Australia, I only showered. So I know that even taking a shower will warm and refresh your body. But after all, I feel that when I take a bath, my body is more warm, refreshed and I feel less tired after that. Japan has an abundance of water, so I can take a bath every day, but in many countries it may be difficult to take a bath every day. But if you are able to, and if you are interested in it, please give it a try.

2:26 *Second, the habit of cleaning.*

Japanese people love cleaning. Or rather, it's become a habit. I think it depends on the person, but basically I clean my house every day. If we have time, I also clean my neighborhood and public areas. Even Japanese soccer fans took their trash home after the world cup match. I think the reason why Japanese people clean so much is because it connects to an important concept of Shintoism, which is cleanliness.

Another reason may be because we have been cleaning since early childhood at school. This cleaning habit keeps the environment around you clean and hygienic. I think this hygienic environment is one of the reasons why Japanese people can live a healthy lifestyle.

3:19 *Third, the habit of special daily exercise.*

Have you ever heard the word radio calisthenics? This is a common exercise you can see in the morning in Japan. It’s called Rajio Taiso, which is a composition of many stretches and movements you do with a song. It seems that it is said to be "one of the reasons why Japan is considered to be a country of longevity" from overseas. Originally it was made in 1928 to improve the health of Japanese people. When I actually do the sequence, it looks like this. It's pretty tiring if you do it seriously. As many as 13 types of exercises are combined within 3 minutes and 13 seconds. Since it moves the body continuously, it not only has a cardio-like effect, but also has the effect of stretching like doing yoga. Also, because it is easy to do, many age groups can enjoy it, from children to the elderly. By the way, my workplace in Canada also adopted this routine every morning.

4:34 *Fourth, the habit of getting up early.*

Here is an interesting story about Japanese people around 1900, which is written by Lafcadio Hearn from the United States, who was an English teacher in Japan. One morning, before the sun rose, I heard a sound near my house. I wondered what it was, and when I looked outside, the villagers were chatting and gargling, washing their faces using dich water. I was wondering what these people were doing, and as soon as the sun rose from the mountain, they all turned to the sun. They said, " Thank you for always looking over us" and prayed with a clap of their hands. Until about 100 years ago, Japanese people used to get up early every morning and worship the sun. Now, this habit only remains during the New Year, but the old Japanese used to do that every day. The reason for worshiping the sun is that in Shintoism, the sun is the supreme deity of Japan.

Unfortunately, young people today don’t have such a habit, but many of the older generations still get up early and some people continue this habit. By getting up early, exposed to the morning sun, your natural clock will reset and be in tune with the day's energy.

5:58 *Fifth, the habit of eating Japanese food.*

The reason why Japanese food is healthy is that it is said to be a healthy diet with a good nutritional balance. For one reason, it was registered as a healthy practice by UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013. A Japanese meal is usually composed of one soup and three side dishes. Rice, the main dish, is high in carbohydrates. Fish or soy products are high in protein. You can get vitamins and minerals from simmered and pickled vegetables. In addition, fermented foods such as miso and natto will improve intestinal digestion. In this way, Japanese food is a well-balanced and healthy diet, so you can keep your body youthful and healthy.

I love eating Japanese food. It's delicious and you can eat various kinds of colorful ingredients, so it's very fun to eat. But honestly, I'm not good at making it. This is because there are many products and seasonings you need to prepare, and it takes a lot of time and effort. So, if you are good at cooking, please give it a try and make some Japanese food.

7:22 *Sixth, the habit of drinking matcha.*

In modern Japan, not so many people usually drink matcha, but Japan has a habit of drinking matcha. The reason why matcha is healthy is that matcha contains an abundant amount of nutrients. For example, it is rich in minerals such as calcium and dietary fibers. It also contains many antioxidants such as catechins. Moreover, since matcha is made from tea leaves itself, it contains several times more nutrients than ordinary tea.

That's why I always drink matcha every morning. I feel that drinking matcha every morning not only makes me healthier, but also makes me feel relaxed while also boosting my work performance. By the way, my great-grandmother also drank matcha every morning. I don't know if it was actually because of the matcha, but my grandma lived healthy until she was nearly 100 years old.

8:26 *Seventh, the habit of hiking mountains.*

There are many mountains in Japan, and many people make it a habit to climb those mountains. I think hiking is also one of the reasons why Japanese people are healthy. This is because it strengthens your legs and feet, so your body does not weaken. In fact, my grandpa went up the mountain almost every week. Even when he was over 70, he was on his feet all the time and worked in the fields every day. He lived healthy until he was about 80 years old.

I leave these type of comments because they help me as a neurodivergent person to understand the video better, and I hope to help more people like me.
What did you think of these habits? Make sure to support this creator by leaving a like or/and a subscription! Comment down below your thoughts.

[ilariasenatore]

I have adopted almost all of these healthy habits over the past two years, and thanks to the physical and spiritual strength I have gained I started my battle against the excess weight that I have been carrying around for so many years, a few days ago. the only habit that at the moment I cannot follow is the daily bathing because unfortunately I do not have a bathtub !!! Regarding food, I also find Japanese food delicious and even though I live in Italy I often eat sushi, soups and fish cooked the Japanese way! thank you for sharing your culture!

[hellojello]

I Love Japan ❤ Only spent a week in your Country, but fell in Love with it. It’s the cleanest place on Earth. Even the underground train system was spotless 😮 There is a warmth from the people and the energy in your Country is unlike any place I have been to. It felt safe(even in the big city of Tokyo) and welcoming. I’m Canadian, glad you were able to experience my country. And I ours 🎉 I look forward to going back to Japan one day 😊

[rexboaden]

As I get older, I am increasingly adopting more and more of these Japanese health and lifestyle practices, and they really do have a beneficial effect. Thank you for this concise and helpful video. Subscribed! ❤