Eight ways to Japanese-style living

The Land of the Rising Sun certainly is beautiful in its uniqueness. It is cramped, busy and competitive, yet also safe, clean and home to some of the healthiest people on the planet. It’s at the forefront of technological breakthroughs yet diligently honours its traditions and ancient customs. Japan can be a rich source of inspiration; here’s a list to help you lead a more fulfilling life.

Food, food, food

The Japanese seem to live longer and healthier than others. Many health practitioners attribute this to their diet. According to the International Obesity Task Force, Japan boasts the lowest obesity rate in the developed world while the World Health Organisation says the Japanese can expect to live 75 years healthy and disability-free.

It helps that they eat more fish, vegetables and fruit, but the real art to Japanese-style dining is having a balanced range of low-calorie foods presented artistically in pretty little dishes. This encourages you to appreciate the beauty of a meal. You’ll have to slow down, which stimulates the brain to realise you’re full faster.

Respecting elders

Considering that the Japanese live longer than everyone else, it’s a really good thing that older people are revered in Japanese culture. While many other nations also believe you should respect elders, perhaps we could do more to practice this.

Hygiene first

Wearing a surgical mask has become the norm in Japan. This practice became widespread in 2009 with the outbreak of the H1N1 virus, but wearing masks in public as a courtesy so as not as to not to infect others dates back to 1918. A 2009 study at Ogumiyamae Elementary School in Tokyo found that 9.7 per cent of pupils who didn’t wear masks contracted influenza, compared to 2 per cent who did. Now that’s nothing to sneeze at!

Tick-tock

Being late in Japan is regarded as a sign of disrespect; you inconvenience others because you value yourself more. Punctuality is so culturally ingrained that being habitually late is regarded as a serious character flaw. This breeds reliability and is the reason business and public transport in Japan run so smoothly. Who wouldn’t benefit from greater reliability?

Recycling matters

With limited resources and a large population, the country takes recycling seriously. A typical area makes at least 12 distinctions between types of rubbish — newspaper, cardboard, milk cartons, books and magazines, other mixed paper, rags, cans, bottles, PET bottles, other plastic, and then whatever doesn’t fit into these categories. The waste is then separated into burnable or non-burnable. We could all recycle more.

The ABC of reading

Japan, birthplace of the first novel, The Tale of Genji, written by Murasaki Shikibu in 1007, has one of the highest literacy rates in the world, at almost 100 per cent. Rote learning, or mechanical or habitual repetition, accompanied by regular reviews and testing are hallmarks of Japanese education, which is also characterised by great support for local schools, teachers and pupils.

Cut out crime

Japan has one of the lowest crime rates in the world, with a UN report linking this to the country having a stable and prosperous society with low inequality and high levels of development. Being kind to one another and committed to treating everyone equally is something the world would do well to follow.

Keep it clean

Despite being densely populated, Japanese cities are virtually spotless. Even wads of chewing gum are hard to find — uniformed men actually get on their hands and knees to scrape them off the pavement. Littering is a big no-no. What would home be like if we followed suit?