They eat a lot of vegetables

Japanese people eat traditionally a lot of rice, vegetables and fish – usually in this particular order. Japanese are also very fond of fermented soy and seaweed, which is the reason why they have enough vitamins, minerals, and healthy phytochemicals.

Unfortunately, from the 19th century, there has been a rise in unhealthy western food consumption – in panko or batter covered fried meat, white bread, refined sugars, and a lot of sweets.

They cook differently

In spite of tempura, tonkatsu and croquettes – Japanese meals require a lot of steaming, grilling, pan grilling, stir-frying, slow-cooking and fermenting.

They also have a habit of making at least one bowl of soup and usually serve food on a number of small plates. Then it is easier to combine fish, vegetable, and they get a lot of fibre from rice and beans.

They drink a lot of tea

There is an enormous culture of tea drinking in Japan – and a high quality Japanese tea contains much more antioxidants than coffee. This is especially true about Japanese tea speciality – matcha tea.

It is the tea in form of fine powder (and is usually pretty expensive), that is made from the young leaves of tea plant grown unusually in shaded fields to have high amount of chlorophyll and antioxidants.

Their food is fresh

It is really, really fresh. And seasonal. Because Japan is a relatively small group of islands with a lot of fields, you don’t have to travel far to get food from the farm to your mouth. And that is true about Japanese vegetable just as well about their fish and grain.

Food is not dated in Japanese markets – it will get to you withing half an hour, as Naomi Moriyama says in her book: Japanese Women Don’t Get Old or Fat.

They have smaller plates

Portion control is a traditional part of Japanese cuisine. Etiquette plays a big part in Japanese lifestyle and part of it is careful usage of chopsticks, eating food from a small bowl or a small plate, garnishing food only lightly, serving each item on the menu on its individual small plate and never filling the plate completely or never serving big portions.

In Okinawa, they believe their longevity is partly because of their saying: hara hachi bu, which means „eat only to feel 80% full“.

They walk more and squat more

Part of everyday Japanese life is demanding commuting – getting up, walking to the station, waiting for the train, walking from another station to work and then going on. Public transport is standard in Japan. People jump on a bike and then on a train – car is considered a luxury. Many employees, such as those in Canon, work standing up.

Even the toiletes are different in Japan. Although there are many western toiletes available, the traditional Japanese toiletes are made for squatting, which is better for your bowels.

They have morning exercise provided by radio

It is called rajio taiso. In Japan, they have morning exercises that are broadcasted through radio and you can see big groups of people in the morning exercising together. Most of the Japanese partake in it and it has several levels of difficulty.

At first, it was a product by MetLife company from Massachusetts and radio exercises got to Japan through the employee of Ministry of communication and traffic in 1920s.

The benefits are clear – higher level of fitness, alertness and energy, together with higher flexibility and attention paying at school or workplace.

They have universal healthcare

From 1960s has Japan mandatory system of healthcare which requires only 8 % GDP (less than what America pays in the current system) and Japanese are simultaneously very healthy. The average Japanese man will visit his doctor more than twelve times a year for overall check, which is four times more than the average man in the US.

They spend more time outside

Besides walking basically anywhere, it is customary to ask your friends out to eat, rather than invite them in your home. Japanese living spaces are modest and the prices in restaurants are relatively low, so outside socialisation is pretty common.

Even though the effect of spending time with friends has not been tested regarding the Japanese longevity, social cohesiveness and friendship are important for emotional health.

They love to cleanse

Japanese are nearly obsessed with cleanliness – which is a good thing. Their culture is based mainly on hundreds years of Shintoism, in which the concept of cleanliness is very important.

In Japan, it is not unusual to bathe twice a day in summer. The public spas are a regular event, although the rules and regulations in them are strict.

SOURCE: HERE