MONDAY 17/18

27 percent of Japan‘s population is now over the age of 65. By 2055 it will reach 40 percent.
There are currently 66 thousand people here who are over a hundred years old. 87 percent of them are women. This is a surprising number of centenarians. And first in the World‘s history.
200 miles west of Tokyo there‘s Nagano prefecture – a scenic mountainious area known as Japanese Alpes. It is one of the longest living regions in the World. Here men usually live up to 81 years and women live over 87 years.
The mayor of Nagano started the ACE progame. ACE means: Activity, Check-ups and Eating
Statristics show that the Nagano people eat the most vegetables in Japan and they have a very low number of cancer and stroke. In Nagano there are a lot of gym classes for old people, healthy and fresh food at the local market and shops. The municipality asks local restaurants to prepare healthy food menus: less sodium and more fresh vegetables. The municpality also built a lot of walking tracks. Many of our inhabitants sixty five years or older continue to work. This helps them to stay active, sociable and involved. Japanese scientists at Smart Aging International Research Center recommend 4 conditions for smart aging:
1 Brain training. It is key
2. Physical exercise. Start to exercise, go swimming, walking. 3. Balanced nutrition. Regular nutritious meals. Don‘t overeat, eat when you feel hungry. But don‘t go on a hunger diet. Don‘t eat processed foods, eat fresh meals.
4 Socialization. Stay active after retirement, continue to move, to socialize, find new activities, new occupations, a community to be with. One seventy-year-old man in Nagano started to work in a local nursery after his retirement. He doesn‘t work for money, he does it for himself and for his community.

10 Reasons Why The Japanese Live Longer Than Any Other People On Earth
#1. They eat a lot of vegetables. Japan Centre Traditionally, the Japanese eat lots of rice, veg and fish — generally in that order — they especially like fermented soy and seaweed. They have no lack of vitamins, minerals. Unfortunately, from the 19th century onward, there has been an increase in unhealthy Western habits —white bread, refined sugars, and lots of sweets.
#2. They cook their food differently. A lot of steaming, pan-grilling, slow-cooking, and fermenting. They also have a habit of making at least one bowl of soup and usually they prepare small dishes. #3. They drink a lot of tea. There’s a huge tea drinking culture in Japan. Japanese tea is a kind of powder made from tea leaves, it is expensive but good quality and contains far more antioxidants than coffee.
#4. Their food is fresh. And seasonal. In Japanese markets, food isn’t dated by the day — it’s dated by the half-hour
#5. They’ve got smal portions. They use chopsticks, and eat from a small plate or rice bowl.
#6. They walk, stand, and squat more. Daily Japanese life is— getting up, going to the station, waiting for the train, standing in the train, walking from the next station to work. Public transport is the norm in Japan. People jump on bikes and hop on trains — a car is considered a luxury. Many employees work standing up. Even going to the bathroom is different in Japan. People squat in old-school Japanese toilets, which is healthier for the bowels.
#7. They have morning exercise — on the radio. Japan has on-the-air exercise routines and people do it in massive groups every morning.
#8. They have universal healthcare. The ordinary Japanese person visits their doctor over a dozen times a year for check-ups,
#9. They spend lots of time outside. They walk practically everywhere. And it’s a Japanese custom to eat out with friends rather than invite them in. Japanese living spaces are modest, while restaurant prices are cheap for them — so people like socializing outside.
#10. They focus on cleanliness. In Japan, it’s common to bathe twice a day in the summer. Before stepping into a bath, people usually have a shower. Communal baths are a regular thing.