According to statistics released by WHO in 2020, the average life expectancy of Japanese people was 84.3 years, ranking first in the world; in second place was Switzerland at 83.4 years and in third place was South Korea at 83.3 years, while the world average was 73.2 years. By gender, Japanese men live the second longest (81.5 years) and Japanese women live the longest (86.9 years). So why do Japanese people live so long?
- Everyone can receive medical care at a lower cost.
In Japan, a universal health insurance system has been introduced, and all citizens are covered by insurance which reduces medical costs. As a result, most medical care is available at less than 30% of the normal cost. In addition, annual health checkups are conducted at schools and companies, causing early detection of diseases. - Healthy Eating Habits
In Japan, many people eat a healthy diet based on fish and rice, known as Japanese cuisine, which is healthier and lower in fat than the average diet of people in other developed countries. In the past, Japanese people only ate Japanese food, so there was an imbalance in nutrients. But in recent years, they have begun eating other cuisines more often. As a result, they have a more balanced diet compared to other countries.
Let's incorporate "Japanese cuisine," which has been registered as The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Intangible Cultural Heritage, into our diet and live a healthy life!
Japanese
なぜ日本人は長生きなのか?
WHOが2020年に発表した統計によると、日本人の平均寿命は84.3歳で世界第1位でした。2位はスイスの83.4歳、3位は韓国の83.3歳で、世界平均は73.2歳です。男女別で見ると男性が世界第2位の81.5歳、女性が世界第1位の86.9歳となっています。なぜ日本人はこれほど長生きなのでしょうか?
- 誰でも医療を安く受けられる
日本では国民皆保険制度が導入されており、全国民が医療費が安くなる保険に加入しています。そのため、ほとんどの医療は通常の3割以下の費用で受けることができます。また、年に一回健康診断を受けることが学校や会社で行われており、異常の早期発見の原因となっています。 - 健康的な食生活
日本では、和食という魚や米を中心としたヘルシーな食事をする人が多いです。和食は他の先進国の人たちの平均的な食事と比べ脂肪分が少なく、ヘルシーです。また、昔はほとんど和食だけ食べていたので栄養素の偏りがありましたが、近年では和食に加え他の料理も食べるようになりました。そのため、他の国と比べバランスの取れた食生活になっているそうです。
ユネスコ無形文化遺産にも登録された「和食」を食生活に取り入れて、健康的な生活を手にいれましょう!
Words
長生き;long life
統計;statistics
平均寿命;average life span
スイス;Switzerland
韓国;Korea
医療;medical
全国民;whole nation
保険;insurance
費用;cost
健康診断;medical checkup
異常;abnormal
和食;Japanese cuisine
ヘルシー;healthy
先進国;advanced nation
栄養素;nutrients
近年;recent years
ユネスコ無形文化遺産;UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage