Dubai: Once Dr Makoto Suzuki starts talking about longevity, it’s difficult for him to stop. It’s his favourite topic. And while participating in a panel discussion at the Dubai Future Forum, the 91-year-old man from Okinawa, Japan was in his element.
Amid day-long discussions on futuristic innovations, technology, AI, and robotics, Dr Suzuki shed light on some simple yet effective ways to live longer, with a distinctly human touch.
“Longevity is not only the extension of a lifestyle, but a celebration of life,” Dr Suzuki, from the Okinawa Research Center for Longevity Science, Japan, said at Museum of the Future.
“Happiness — being happy — is an important factor,” he told an audience listening with rapt attention.
While Japan is known for having the most centenarians, the Okinawa Prefecture stands out. The island is a ‘blue zone’, meaning people there live longer than anywhere else in the world, thanks to a combination of factors.
Asked about the secret behind his own and fellow Okinawans’ high life expectancy, Dr Suzuki said: “Resilience, ‘ikigai,’ and ‘nankurunaisa.’”
Resilience
“People in Okinawa live a resilient lifestyle, and it’s all connected to celebration,” he said, recalling how a 110-year-old woman, affected by the Battle of Okinawa and World War II, remained calm and composed, leading a long life.
“She experienced the bloodiest wars, but she stayed resilient and happy despite it all. Okinawans have a lot of confidence. They believe they can do anything. They never say ‘no’ and keep trying.”
Ikigai
Asked about ‘ikigai,’ Dr Suzuki explained it as having a sense of purpose in life.
“Don’t isolate yourself. Whether young or old, stay active, go out for a walk with your dog, keep doing something,” said Dr Suzuki, who has two dogs back home.
Meanwhile, Christal Burnette from the Okinawa Research Center for Longevity Science shared insights from a survey conducted at Okinawa International University on ‘ikigai’.
“We surveyed students, and half of them said their passion for life was their partner, while the other half mentioned karaoke. But when we spoke to the elderly, their ‘ikigai’ was about being with other people. None of the Okinawans said it was about getting a job, a car, or a house,” Burnette noted.
Dr Suzuki stressed that socialising is crucial in the lives of Okinawans.
“People should enjoy being together. When that happens, life feels like a celebration.”
Nankurunaisa
‘Nankurunaisa’ is an Okinawan term that means ‘to take life as it comes’.
“There is no direct English equivalent for this word. It’s about always moving forward in life, no matter what happens. Okinawans don’t stress. They have a positive mentality. They live in the moment,” Dr Suzuki added.
Asked about death, he said that Okinawans prefer to “die on the spot, sitting down, and just gone”.
