An Aging Japan

We’ve all heard about the aging society in Japan and how the japan government and the doctors in every clinic recommends calcium supplement for those not only aging but those who are in their late 30s.  I wished they recommend supplements like this in West too because calcium is very important for the bones.  And as you grow older – your bones become more fragile and brittle – easily  broken or crack when you take a fall.  I know so – because each time – my grandparents take a fall – they end up in the hospital for some broken bones.   So it’s not only for the Japanese people folks – take your calcium supplement daily now – I am!

Healthy Japanese

The Japanese are a healthy lot – why do you think they lived to ripe old age of an average of 95!  yes!  you can see lots of old but healthy folks in Japan.  They not only eat well – they love trekking and hiking and even with their small apartments – they have pull up station to keep them exercising most days.  I think some of the ladies do join gym – but I think most have their own exercising machine at home and every chance they get – they will be outdoors doing something – searching mountains and going diving and other outdoors activities.  And even if they are smokers – they still do the trekking thing religiously like my dear friend’s spouse.

Western Style Wedding Ceremonies

The Japanese loves a lot of things western – from a western style wedding ceremony to anything anti-aging from the West – like hgh.  Not only the young follows the Western counterparts – you can see older couple doing the same thing.   Japanese I find are highly impressionable people – but they know a good stuff when they see it.  Quality is always the thing for the Japanese and not quantity.  If they are not a good quality product – they rather not buy or wear it.

Having say all the above – a friend of mine is who works in Japan – does Western wedding for these Japanese couples and get pay very well – for being a stand in best man and handling the entire ceremony.  One can earn as much as 10,000 Yen for an hours work.  Looking at this Japanese couple – you wouldn’t know that they are older than most – but yes – like I said – the Japanese are big on dressing and skin care and healthy living.  So if you ever see a couple getting married – make sure you tell her how young they look – not only the wife but the husband as well – I know they will appreciate it.

Sumo Wrestling

I’ve only been to a sumo wrestling all but once – while i was living in Japan for work.  Sumo wrestling is a national sports – I once saw a documentary about Sumo wrestlers and how they start very young with training and all the food they have to eat – just to keep up with their size.  My nephew was once so interested in it – he read up on building his size up on www.increasemusclemass.org – haha! – and he was pretty serious about it too.

The sumo stadium in Japan is at Tokyo Ryogoku – Kokugikan .  Most elite wrestlers are highly trained athletes between 20 and 35 years old. They typically live together in residential and training complexes, called “stables”, where all aspects of life, from sleeping and eating to training and free time, are strictly regimented by the coach, called the “stable master”.

Getting a ticket for the sumo wrestling is not impossible – but if you wanna be seated right in front – you have to have the right connections – to get those tickets and they sell for thousands – but if you don’t mind standing around and watching the show – you only have to pay as little as $5.

Watching sumo wrestling was quite an experience but I was told by my co-workers that it was not all glamor to be a wrestler because they are trained very hard and they have back breaking routines to follow which includes some beating up from their trainers.   Many let their sons go into the sumo program because they hope they would bring honor to their family and become famous too.

Healthy Eating In Japan

Japan is famous for its treats, sweets and desserts – they are not just sweets – they are an art – they way they present them.  Some looked so cute and yummy – I feel bad to chomp them down.  But even with so much sweets – the Japanese – tries to eat as healthy as possible.  I know that they believe in taking Acai for one – but they are also aware of the acai scam about how they will help you lose weight.  In fact, I read the same too – a long time ago – when I myself was trying to lose some weight while I was in Japan. But a friend quickly point out about healthy eating in Japan and what one should actually eat to lose weight.  But of course, like most of my japanese friends – they are absolutely skinny – but me – I can’t seems to loose that extra 5kg.

Shopping Like The Locals In Japan

When I was in Japan – I tried to shop like a local – but of course – my japanese isn’t as good – so I make it a point to shop with a co-worker and experience how the local lived.  I want to know where I can get the best fish, best multivitamins,  best and cheapest cosmetics and try all their local food.  The best part of shopping locally was there was no rushing or pushing or any greediness like back home.  You can see everyone very disciplined and waiting for their turn, every Japanese that I’ve met thus far are polite and awfully shy it seems on the local street.

The Healthy American In Japan

My American girlfriend who works in Japan and married a japanese is currently living in Japan full time – they just had a baby – and she told me that after living there for this long – she now eats a lot healthier.  But she buy vitamins online because it’s  a lot cheaper than getting them from the Japanese pharmacy.   But it is not just my American girlfriend who is getting on the bandwagon and ordering vitamins online – the Japanese friends of hers are doing it too and in bulk.   We all know the Japanese live to be healthy – they eat healthy and do stuff that are healthy – like hiking and camping – wished we could all be like the Japanese – they work long hours – but they find time to be healthy too.

A Balanced Japanese Diet

This can be found in Japan in a regular cafe – now you see why the Japanese don’t need fat burners while I do?  While the Japanese girls have avocados in their burgers we have meat patties in ours.  In fact, the more the merrier the meat ! sure my japanese friends eat a lot of sweets but they also eat a lot of fish – now you see why I can’t lose the weight ever since coming to Canada.!!  I need to lose some weight and the food here in Canada sure doesn’t help.  When I was living in Japan for 6 months – i never had to worry about fat burners or exercising – there was absolutely no fat in the raw fishes that i ate and even if they had fats – they were good fats  – so i was told.  I so need to move to Japan!

The Rise Of Old In Japan

Like many country – Japan is no different – the rise of the older generation can be seen everywhere – although – they all seems a lot healthier than those in the West.  It’s probably the food they are eating?  or is it acetyl l carnitine – that produces energy.   I heard that if you have memory lost – it’s something to use as well.   I’m currently 45 and already feeling so tired all the time – and to boost my energy – I eat lots of fish – but I’ll take anything that can help and not harmful to my body.  What about you?

Working In Japan

Many people had asked me about my short stay in Japan for work – and wonder how one does it – since it’s so expensive living in Japan.   Are there many jobs in Japan?  What kind of cultural shock do one have to prepare for?  what kind of benefits?  Is there insurance provided by the company you work for?  What kind of life insurance quotes online do one have to look for back home – in order to go to Japan to work?  Is there health insurance or health benefits?  Can I bring my family with me?  So many questions – that one always have when they are going to Japan to work and who can blame them right?

I don’t know about those who are from different countries – as for me – I needed to get some form of insurance before I can work in Japan and I also needed to get a health check up to be presented to immigration before the company I was working for accepted my temporary position.  A work visa is also required before leaving for Japan – like all other countries – one cannot work if you are on a tourist visa.  There are more than a dozen types of work visa in Japan – and you can only work within that confine – when you apply for it.  The work market in Japan is very competitive – besides a few types of professions that I know is in great demand – like teaching and IT position – the rest are not in so high demand and even though there may be a vacancy – they are usually given to their fellowmen first.

Working in Japan will means you need some sort of health insurance – and usually the company you are working for – are usually pretty good at it – the cover you – totally.  But you have to make sure you have one – because visiting a doctor in Japan is not cheap and if you are in need to be admitted to a hospital – it could cost you an arm and a leg.   So once again – i cannot stress enough how much a insurance is a must.

As for cultural shock?  I don’t really think so – because even though not all Japanese speaks English fluently – they are generally nice people – and they do understand English because it is a subject they take in school.  And if you work in Japan – make sure you are not the first to leave the office – because it is frown upon by the bosses.