Just 21% of Japanese expect to be happy if they live to 100
An overwhelming majority of Japanese people have no wish to live for a century in contrast to other nationals’ attitudes on longevity, according to a study on ageing covering six countries.
The report shows the Japanese “only focus on the negative aspects of living to be 100”, with just 21 per cent saying they expect to be happy when they reach 100.
“When we look at people’s views on life up to 100 years old, it becomes clear that Japan is the only country that does not see the positive aspects of the era of 100year lifespans,” said Takashi Tanaka, author of the report, in his conclusion.
“In other countries, while there are negative aspects, such as anxiety and difficulties associated with a 100-year lifespan, people also focus on the positive aspects.”
The negative aspects the Japanese tend to focus on include not wanting to be a burden to family or friends and the “difficulties” associated with being a centenarian. Respondents in the other countries involved in the study – the United States, China, South Korea, Germany and Finland – had similar concerns.
Only 28.7 per cent of Japanese said they would have new opportunities to experience things at the century mark.
In contrast, 59 per cent of Americans and 58 per cent of Chinese expected to be happy when they reached 100, while 65 per cent of Americans and 51 per cent of Germans anticipate having new opportunities as they age.
Just 27.4 per cent of Japanese said they wanted to live to be 100, compared with 52.8 per cent of Germans, 53.1 per cent of South Koreans, 58.4 per cent of Finns, 65.6 per cent of Chinese and 66.7 per cent of Americans.
The study was conducted by the Research Institute for Centenarians to mark United Nations’ International Day of Happiness on Wednesday. Researchers quizzing 2,800 Japanese people aged 20 to 79 about ageing, along with a similar number of people in the other countries.
Kanako Hosomura, a 41-yearold housewife from Yokohama, said she would be “happy to live to 100, but only if I am physically and mentally able to take care of myself”.
“I do not want to have to ask other people to do things for me, even simple things, because I would be a burden on them,” she said. “But if I can get around and my mind is still sound, then why not live to 100?”
Hosomura said she worried that she might become more pessimistic about the future as she aged, but having family and close friends should provide her with a more positive outlook.
Makoto Suzuki, a 90-year-old cardiologist, said the people of Okinawa had a different attitude to longevity than the rest of Japan.
“There are many reasons why people here live longer, but the basic one is he said, referring to the traditional idea of the reason a person has for living. For Suzuki, that is his work in the city of Naha and as founder of the Okinawa Research for Centre for Longevity Sciences.
In addition to a reason to live, many people in Okinawa still had a good diet that was high in vegetables, fruit and seafood while they had also preserved a strong sense of community, Suzuki said.
“Of course, I want to live to 100. I can’t be sure that will happen, but I shall try my best.”
Tomoko Owan, a 64-year-old associate professor in the medicine faculty at the University of the Ryukyus, agreed that a positive outlook on life was critical and pointed out she still taught karate at the university in Okinawa.
“The key, I believe, is to be relaxed and have a positive attitude,” she said. “It also helps when you have a good, balanced diet.” Just as important was a daily session of karate, which acted as training for the body, mind and soul, she added.
“I’m healthy now and yes, I would very much like to live to even 120 years old if I can stay healthy,” she said.
The report also suggested that Japanese people were less happy with their lives in comparison with others, with respondents averaging only 5.9 on a scale of 10 for happiness. That was the lowest of the six countries, with China emerging as the happiest at 7.4 out of 10, followed by Finland with 6.8 and Germany with 6.6.