Author: Peter Eadon-Clarke

Advisor, Conceptasia Inc.
Peter Eadon-Clarke is a specialist in J-Wellness, product and technique trends, wellness tourism and the Stress Check Program. Peter has extensive experience managing complex multicultural teams; roles held during 14 years at Macquarie Capital Securities (Japan) limited included branch manager, global head of economics and Tokyo head of research. Previously, positions included UBS Trust and Banking in Tokyo as chief investment officer, CIO at Sumitomo Life Investment and CIO for the Pacific Basin at GT (now Invesco).

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Wellness

Sustained Meditation Reduces Cortisol (the stress hormone)

Investigating the effect of meditation on stress through both the measurement of hair-based glucocorticoid assays, and from questionnaire data, the October 2021 RCT study (1) concluded that:

Our results show that daily mental training for 3 to 6 months can buffer the long-term systemic stress load of healthy adults. This was reflected in a reduction of cortisol (HC) and cortisone (HE) accumulation in hair, while levels of self-reported chronic stress were less consistently decreased.

How scientists measure stress is discussed here.

The study also found that the reduction of cortisol (HC) and cortisone (HE) accumulation in hair were independent of specific training content, (table below), positively associated with practice frequency for HC, and reached a ceiling after 6 months of training.

Equally, it took 6 months until significant differences to the baseline were achieved in all training cohorts, suggesting that reliable long-term benefits emerge only after a relatively long period of intense training.

The study used a range of meditation techniques
1) Attention/Interoceptive Awareness
The Core Exercises:
Breathing Meditation
Body Scan
2) Care, Compassion, Gratitude/Prosocial Motivation/Dealing with Difficult emotions
The Core Exercises
Loving-kindness Meditation
Affect Dyad
3) Meta-cognition/Perspective-taking on Self/Perspective-taking on Others
The Core Exercises
Observing-thought Meditation
Perspective Dyad

For much more on meditation and wellness, please see our book, available on Amazon:

Wellness and Meditation, Perspectives from Japan. The scientific underpinnings and practical problems of building mental resiliency.

References:

  1. Contemplative Mental Training Reduces Hair Glucocorticoid Levels in a Randomized Clinical Trial, by Puhlmann, Lara M.C.; Vrticka, Pascal; Linz, Roman; Stalder, Tobias; Kirschbaum, Clemens; Engert, Veronika; Singer, Tania, in Psychosomatic Medicine, October 2021
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Wellness

The 2020 Lockdown and the Missing Japanese Women Runners

The media reported a global running boom during the lockdowns of 2020. (1, 2, 3, 4)

However, recently released data for Japan show a decline in women’s participation 2020 versus 2018. (5) The survey has been conducted every two years since 1998.

On a variety of measures Japan’s running participation rate, 2020 versus 2018, has risen:

Participation rate (%), Running, Three frequency measures

 20182020
Once a week or more  
Overall5.35.6
Male7.88.7
Female2.82.6
Once a month or more  
Overall6.47.0
Once a year or more  
Overall9.310.2
Male12.914.9
Female5.85.6

Source: Sasakawa Sports Foundation, (5) Conceptasia, November 2021

However, the increasing participation rate, 2020 versus 2018, is entirely driven by men

Data by gender and age is available for the “Once a year or more” measure. The decline in participation of women in their thirties, 2020 versus 2018, is notably pronounced. The data is in the supporting paper, here.

An obvious observation is that with kindergartens and schools closed, those with young children would be forced to provide continuous care at home. This is likely to be most prevalent amongst parents in their thirties.

Time and more data will enable stronger conclusions.

Running is regarded as one of the best exercises for easing stress. (2) This reflects its rhythmic nature enabling experienced runners to get “into the zone.”

Unexpected childcare responsibilities and a loss of a stress-reduction technique could result in mental wellness issues for some Japanese women in their thirties.

References

  1. Asics: New study explores the world’s new-found love of running, June 2020. https://www.asics.com/za/en-za/blog/article/new-study-explores-the-world%27s-new-found-love-of-running
  2. Stylist: Running in lockdown: why have so many women turned to jogging for their mental health? https://www.stylist.co.uk/fitness-health/running-mental-health-lockdown/494980
  3. Runners World: 2020 Was a Crazy Running Year. Here’s the Data to Prove It, December 2020 https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a34949046/2020-year-in-running-data/
  4. Run Repeat: Exercise is Up 88% During COVID-19 [12,913 Person Study], August 2021. https://runrepeat.com/exercise-covid-19-study
  5. Sasakawa Sports Foundation, October 2021: Jogging / running estimated population, record high of 10.55 million https://re-how.net/all/1435656/
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Wellness

Eating early is best

A recent study (1) found that people who start eating before 8:30 a.m. had lower blood sugar levels and less (which is better) insulin resistance, which could reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Both higher insulin resistance and high blood sugar levels affect a person’s metabolism, the breaking down of food to its simpler components: proteins, carbohydrates (or sugars), and fats. Metabolic disorders such as diabetes occur when these normal processes become disrupted. (2)

The average time that the Japanese have breakfast is 7.10 a.m, with probably near 90% of people starting breakfast before 8.30 a.m.

Japanese Breakfast Start Times on Weekdays (2011 survey)

Time (a.m.)%
Before 65.6
6 to 730.6
7 to 842.7
8 to 915.2
After 95.8

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (3)

One explanation for the health benefits of early eating is the body’s circadian clock, and how regular patterns help the body’s efficient functioning. The circadian clock regulates sleep/wake cycles, hormonal activity, body temperature rhythm and eating/digesting.

Japan’s SW to NE archipelago has one time zone, and population densities tend towards the eastern edge of the time zone. Tokyo’s sunrise, for example, oscillates between 4:30 a.m. at the height of summer and 6:50 a.m. in the depths of winter.

This all seems consistent with the Japanese being able to wake with the sun all year around and start breakfast before 8.30 a.m. – a healthy lifestyle.

There appears to no benefit to shorter eating durations (time-restricted eating): Shorter eating durations were associated with worse metabolic outcomes, except when paired with an earlier start time. All subgroups with an early eating start time had better metabolic outcomes regardless of eating duration. (1)

References:

  1. Eating Timing: Associations with Dietary Intake and Metabolic Health, by Amy Taetzsch, Susan B Roberts, Asma Bukhari, Alice H Lichtenstein, Cheryl H Gilhooly, Edward Martin, Amy J Krauss, Adrienne Hatch-McChesney, and Sai Krupa Das, 2021
  2. Endocrine Society press release, 17 March 2021: https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/featured-science-from-endo-2021/eating-before-830-am-could-reduce-risk-factors-for-type-2-diabetes
  3. Hatena Blog: What time do Japanese people have breakfast?  https://nbakki.hatenablog.com/entry/What_Time_Japanese_Have_Breakfast%3F
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Wellness

Green tea, Growing in Japan

Green tea in Hamarikyuteien

From the convenience of PET bottle green tea to the leisurely traditional tea ceremony, and the specialist green tea shops and casual cafes in between, green tea remains ubiquitous in Japan.

Expenditure in Japan on green tea products at ¥11,625 per household in 2019 was a new high (dataset from 2003), table below.

This has been driven by the growing popularity of pet-bottle green tea, with sales exceeding leaf tea sales for the first time in 2007.

Green Tea Expenditure per Household by Year (Yen)

 200320072019
Leaf6,1385,2903,780
Bottled4,6275,8027,845
Total10,76511,09211,625

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Household Statistics, Conceptasia, October 2021

Green tea offers a deep sensory experience of color, flavor, and aroma, as well as delivering health benefits.

Recent human studies suggest that green tea may contribute to a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer.

For those interested in learning more about the health benefits of drinking green tea, crude leaf production in Japan, types of green tea by taste and aroma, and the names of some leading brands, please see the background paper here.

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Wellness

Adventure Tourism, Sustainable Tourism

The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) is maintaining its target for inbound visitors in 2030 at 60 million. (1)  This compares to achieved numbers of 31.88 million in 2019 and 4.12 million in 2020.

In the attempt to hit the target, the government will be promoting promising growth areas.

The JNTO spokesmen expects “adventure tourism” to be popular as people escape the confines of their homes. In addition, “sustainable tourism”, wherein tourism businesses seek to preserve their local environment and community, is expected to be a broadening multi-year trend worldwide.

Both activities above can be experienced in Japan’s 34 National Parks. A good place to start planning a trip is the National Parks Discovery Center at Shinjuku Gyoen.

In 2019, inbound tourists made 6.67 million visits to national parks. This implies one in five visitors to Japan visited a national park.  

However, visits were highly concentrated with the top four national parks welcoming three-quarters of the total visits, implying that there is still significant potential for growth.

For more details on Japan’s forests and parks, please click on the link here.

A reality check: In our book, J-Wellness 2020, we made the case for Japan’s inbound tourism market having achieved maturity. Our 2030 forecast of 44.5 million is based on a recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic by 2025 and trend growth in line with an estimated global tourism market growth rate of 3% pa. The analysis is available here. With the recognition of vaccine passports currently being dependent on which vaccine was administered, the normalization of travel from, for example, China by 2025 is looking less certain. Visitors to Japan from China totaled 9.59 million in 2019, and 1.07 million in 2020.  

References

  1. Despite COVID-19’s lingering impact, Japan sticks to 2030 tourism target, Japan Times, 28 September 2021: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/09/27/business/jnto-2030-tourism-target/
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Wellness

Clinical Study Support for the Health Benefits of Fermented Foods

Natto: fermented soybeans

Fermented foods are plentiful in the Japanese diet.

Researchers at the Stanford School of Medicine have found that a 10-week diet high in fermented foods boosts microbiome diversity, lowers inflammation, and improves immune responses. (1)

Justin Sonnenburg, one of the authors, said: This is a stunning finding, it provides one of the first examples of how a simple change in diet can reproducibly remodel the microbiota across a cohort of healthy adults. (2)

Diet shapes the gut microbiome which in turn affects the immune system and overall health. Low gut-microbiome diversity has been linked to obesity and diabetes.

Fermentation is an ancient technique of preserving food, which adds nutritive value in the process, as well as allowing new flavors, textures, tastes and appearances. Implied by its roots, no chemical additives are involved.

Natto arrived in Japan during the Nara period (710-794 AD) with Buddhist priests from China. Shoyu and Miso date back to 1000 BC in China, with production knowledge arriving in Japan in around 600 AD. (3)

In addition to Natto, Shoyu and Miso, there are many other common fermented foods in Japan.

Please see the background paper linked here for more details.

References

  1. Gut-microbiota-targeted diets modulate human immune status, by Hannah C. Wastyk Gabriela K. Fragiadakis Dalia Perelman, Erica D. Sonnenburg, Christopher D. Gardner, and Justin L. Sonnenburg, July 2021
  2. Stanford School of Medicine News Center:https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2021/07/fermented-food-diet-increases-microbiome-diversity-lowers-inflammation
  3. Health Benefits of Fermented Foods and Beverages, Edited by Jyoti Prakash Tamang, 2015
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Wellness

Tokyo targets sub-10µg/m3 for PM2.5 by 2030

Kiyosumi Garden, nature in central Tokyo

Relatively good air quality contributes to Japan’s longest life expectancy in the world, and Tokyo is looking to further reduce air pollutants.

Air Quality is measured across multiple pollutants, (1) with annual exposure levels to PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter) being the most frequently used in research studies. Tokyo is aiming to achieve by 2030 the safest PM2.5 level identified by the WHO (10µg/m3) at its 80 monitoring stations. (2)

Tokyo is tightening standards despite Japan having relatively good air quality already:

Share of population exposed to more than 15 µg/m3 PM2.5

Source: OECD (3)

The impetus is the damage to health that air pollutants cause. For example, particulate matter can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects. Fine particles smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter (PM10) enter deep into the lungs, while smaller PM2.5 go beyond the lungs and into the bloodstream. (3) Research has linked air pollutants to mortality, (4) asthma, heart disease, (5) diabetes, (6) dementia, (7) and through damage to gut microbes to inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal disease, (8) and potentially obesity and its associated problems.  

References

  1. Japan’s Ministry of the Environment: https://www.env.go.jp/en/air/aq/aq.html
  2. Asahi Shimbun, 28 October 2020: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13822414
  3. OECD working paper n umber 156: Policies, regulatory framework and enforcement for air quality management: The case of Japan, by Enrico Botta, and Sho Yamasaki, March 2020 https://www.oecd.org/officialdocuments/publicdisplaydocumentpdf/?cote=ENV/WKP(2020)3&docLanguage=En
  4. Japanese Nationwide Study on the Association Between Short-term Exposure to Particulate Matter and Mortality, by Takehiro Michikawa, Kayo Ueda, Akinori Takami, Seiji Sugata, Ayako Yoshino, Hiroshi Nitta, and Shin Yamazaki, October 2018
  5. Association of PM2.5 exposure with hospitalization for cardiovascular disease in elderly individuals in Japan, by Toshiki Kaihara, Kihei Yoneyama, Michikazu Nakai, Takumi Higuma, Yoko Sumita Yoshihiro Miyamoto, Mika Watanabe, Masaki Izumo, Yuki Ishibashi, Yasuhiro Tanabe, Tomoo Harada, Satoshi Yasuda, Hisao Ogawa and Yoshihiro J. Akashi, May 2021
  6. PM2.5 and Diabetes in the Japanese Population, by Mihye Lee and Sachiko Ohde, June 2021
  7. Alzheimer’s Association International Conference,2021: https://alz.org/aaic/releases_2021/overview.asp
  8. BBC, January 2019: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190128-how-dirty-air-could-be-affecting-our-gut-health
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Wellness

Ominous Indications for the Domestic Travel Recovery

Travel group JTB has published a survey on this year’s summer season (July 20 to August 31) domestic travel intentions. (1)

Domestic travel expenditures are forecast to be ¥1.32 trillion. The chart below puts this in context. 2021 is forecast to be down 59% versus the pre-covid 2012-2019 average expenditure of ¥3.22 trillion.

2020 summer season expenditures were ¥1.22 trillion.

Ominous indications include:

  1. Schools are on holiday for the full period this year, in contrast to 2020 when many schools stayed open for weeks to catch up with missed studies. Precluded last year, more families were expected to travel this year.
  2. International travel is still impractical for the second year. Holidaying domestically was expected to benefit.
  3. The survey included intentions by age group. The 60 and over group is now 70% vaccinated, and yet has the lowest “Will go/Will probably go” travel intentions at just 14%. The young, 29 and under, have the highest at 31%.

Pre-Covid-19, the summer season was some 20-25% of annual domestic trips.

In our book, “J-Wellness 2020: The economics, career options, and investment opportunities” we forecasted that inbound tourism would take five years, to 2025, to recover. It is beginning to look like domestic travel will need a similar length of time.

References:

  1. July Survey Predicts 40 million Domestic Tourists for Japan in Summer, Nippon.com, 6 August 2021
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Wellness

Longevity and Work

The choice to keep working in Japan appears to be driven by positive reasons.

Japan has the longest life expectancy in the world. (1) The life choices being made are of relevance worldwide. The Japanese are increasingly choosing work, and a government survey reveals why. (2)

Trends in Employment Rate by Age Group (%)

20102020
60-6457.171.0
65-6936.449.6
70-7422.032.5
75+8.310.4
     

Source: Cabinet Office, 2021 Report, Conceptasia, July 2021

Employment rates for those between 60 and 75 have been rising around 1% per year for the last decade. One third of 70–74-year-old Japanese are still in employment.

The Japanese government is considering changing their definition of “elderly” from 65+ to 75+.

For those working with an income, the government’s survey had six categories as to why:

A: Because I want income. B: Because work itself is interesting and I can utilize my knowledge and abilities. C: Because I make friends through my work. D: Because working is good for my health and prevents aging. E: Others. F: Unknown/No answer.

Reason for Working by Age, Reason definitions above (%)

Reason60-6465-6970-7475+
A65.148.239.829.9
B21.122.725.332.8
C05.54.81.5
D10.119.127.726.9
E3.73.62.46.0
F00.903.0
     

Source: Cabinet Office, 2020 Report, Conceptasia, July 2021

The importance of income declines with age group (row A in the table above).

For the third of 70-74 year old Japanese still working, for interest (B) and health (D) reasons make up 53% of the replies.

References

  1. Please see chapter two of our book: J-Wellness 2020, The economics, career options, and investment opportunities, published August 2020.
  2. Annual Report on the Aging Society, released by Japan’s Cabinet Office. English language summary reports: https://www8.cao.go.jp/kourei/english/annualreport/index-wh.html
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Wellness

Diet, Gut Microbes, and Health

The Olympics is a time to marvel at human health and performance.

A large-scale cross-border study (1) has identified a panel of 15 gut microbes associated with lower risks, and 15 with higher risks, for common illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease,

After undertaking microbiome testing, an individual would receive dietary advice to facilitate a rebalancing.

Our microbiome has been found to be highly personalized with only a minor contribution being attributable to genetics.

The research also supports the notion that it is better to avoid processed foods with added sugar and salt, since they are more likely to be associated with the ‘bad’ gut microbes.(2)

The excitement around the results is captured in the following quote from one of the research team:

“We were surprised to see such large, clear groups of what we informally call ‘good’ and ‘bad’ microbes emerging from our analysis,” affirmed Nicola Segata, PhD, professor and principal investigator of the Computational Metagenomics Lab at the University of Trento, Italy, and leader of the microbiome analysis in the study. “It is also exciting to see that microbiologists know so little about many of these microbes that they are not even named yet. This is now a big area of focus for us, as we believe they may open new insights in the future into how we could use the gut microbiome as a modifiable target to improve human metabolism and health.” (3)

References

  1. Microbiome connections with host metabolism and habitual diet from 1,098 deeply phenotyped individuals, by Asnicar, F., et al., 2021, in Nature Medicine
  2. Research: Study finds powerful links between gut microbiome, diet, and long-term health, by Megan Whitby, June 2021 in Spa Opportunities: https://www.spaopportunities.com/index.cfm?pagetype=news&codeID=347949
  3. Study uncovers strong links between a person’s diet, gut microbes and health, reviewed by Emily Henderson, January 2021, at: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210111/Study-uncovers-strong-links-between-a-persons-diet-gut-microbes-and-health.aspx
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Wellness

A Long Hot Soak versus the Gym

Japan has the third largest physical activity economy in the world, at US$21bn (1). Active participation is a relatively high 70%. The Global Wellness Institute also estimates that average per participant spend (including enabling supplies) is US$495 versus US$582 in Europe and $1,345 in North America.

Despite this Japan has 36% inadequately active. (2) This reflects the country’s prosperity. High-income countries average 37%, Middle-income countries average 26%, and Low-income countries average 21%.

Is there an alternative to the gym?

The health benefits of physical exercise have been studied for 3/4 decades. Academic research is now investigating passive heating, “thermal therapy”, and early results indicate comparable benefits.

Studies have found that passive heating can induce numerous health benefits, such as improvements to cardiorespiratory fitness, vascular health, glycemic control, and chronic low-grade inflammation. (3)

The table below summarizes the research program to date. Research into the commonalities of the underlying mechanisms is ongoing.

The table is formatted to be read in landscape:

Summary of Chronic Adaptions to Exercise (Ex) and Passive Heating (PH)

BI: Beneficial Increase, BD: Beneficial Decrease, NE: No Effect, ME: Mixed Evidence, ?: Lacking Evidence

Cardiorespiratory fitnessExPHVascular healthExPHCardiometabolic healthExPH
VO(2max)BIBIEndothelial functionBIBIFasting glucose concentrationBDBD
Left-ventricular functionBI?Peripheral arterial complianceBIBIFasting insulin concentrationBDBD
Left-ventricular structureBI?Peripheral arterial wall thicknessBDNEFasting lipid concentrationsBDBD
Plasma volumeBIBICentral arterial stiffnessBDBDResting CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 concentrationBDME
Mitochondrial biogenesisBIMECentral arterial wall thicknessBDBDBody massBDNE
CapillarisationBIBIResting blood pressureBDBD

Note: The health benefits of passive heating and aerobic exercise: To what extent do the mechanisms overlap (3)

Source: Paper noted above, Conceptasia, June 2021

Fortunately, Japan has the most extensive network of thermal springs in the world, (4) further facilitating a long hot soak as an alternative/complement to time spent in the gym.

References:

  1. Move to be well: The Global Economy of Physical Activity, by Global Wellness Institute, October 2019
  2. Asian Development Outlook 2020, Update, Theme chapter: Wellness in Worrying Times, by ADB, September 2020, data from the The Lancet – Worldwide trends in in sufficient physical activity from 2001 to 2016: a pooled analysis of 358 population-based surveys with 1.9 million participants. October 2018
  3. The health benefits of passive heating and aerobic exercise: To what extent do the mechanisms overlap? by Tom Cullen, Neil D. Clarke, Matthew Hill, Campbell Menzies, Christopher J. A. Pugh, Charles J. Steward, and C. Douglas Thake, September 2020
  4. J-Wellness 2020: The economics, career options, and investment opportunities, chapter five, by Peter Eadon-Clarke & Yoriko Soma, August 2020
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Wellness

Country Variations in Wellness Priorities

Yoriko Soma, Tobira Onsen Myojinkan

Data is a scarce resource in the Wellness industry. The Global Wellness Institute (1) provides the best, most comprehensive data, in our opinion. Other data sources provide insights.

For example, Mckinsey & Company provides occasional market insights; the table below coming from a recent paper. (2) The definitions used for the categories are in the original article; here we are interested in the variations across countries.

Table formatted to be viewed in landscape:

Wellness spending by category, (a) % of annual spending on wellness products and services
USAGermanyU.K.JapanChinaBrazil
Health50.143.147.852.443.564.6
Appearance20.122.324.929.723.112.8
Fitness13.827.816.010.617.911.9
Nutrition9.24.18.55.111.14.9
Mindfulness6.32.22.51.62.95.3
Sleep0.60.40.30.61.50.5
Note: (a) Question: Approximately how much money have you spent on each of the following in the past 12 months? Survey conducted in August 2020
Source: McKinsey & Company, Conceptasia, May 2021

Relative to the other countries, consumers in the US prioritize mindfulness, Germans prioritize fitness, Japanese prioritize appearance, Chinese prioritize nutrition and sleep, and Brazilians relatively prioritize health. In particular, the relative spend by Germans on fitness stands out.

We detailed the Japanese approach to beauty in the J-Wellness theme paper for the 2020 Global Wellness Trends. (3) To quote from that report:

Reflective of an exacting quality in all matters, J-Beauty is about long-term reliability. This includes an anti-ageing focus and a simplified beauty regime backed by science. All of this is the antithesis of “fast fashion.” In Japan, purity and deep cleansing are culturally based, with morning and evening bathing rituals having supported the original cleansing oils popularized by Shu Uemura.

Today’s daily routine is typically double cleansing followed by an essence lotion (a clear liquid that hydrates and preps), a serum (a watery liquid with beneficial, usually natural ingredients), and a moisturizer. Facial masks are a weekly activity. Since layering is at the core of J-Beauty, most of the products are of a very light texture resulting in super-hydration of the skin. The goal is effervescent skin, “bihaku,” a bright skin tone, and the elimination of sun-related skin damage. Products emphasize natural, functional, nontoxic, sustainable ingredients.

Relatively low priorities currently could be opportunities for market development.

Japan has relatively low priorities in Fitness and Mindfulness. For the latter, please see our Why meditation apps have struggled in Japan. A fitness article is in preparation.  

References

  1. The GWI website is https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/
  2. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/consumer-packaged-goods/our-insights/feeling-good-the-future-of-the-1-5-trillion-wellness-market
3. J-Wellness
Categories
Wellness

Ikigai, Longevity & Hobbies

Ikigai increases longevity, hobbies even more so.

Ikigai, having a purpose in life, an age-old Japanese ideology, rose to global prominence with the international bestseller “Ikigai – The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life” by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles, published in 2016, English translation published in 2017. Ikigai Google searches (topic and search terms) have continued to rise since 2016 (source: trends.google.com).

The academic support (1) for Ikigai leading to a longer life, found that the mortality rate per 100 person-years was significantly reduced for those identifying as having a purpose in life (table below).

 Study deathsPerson-yearsMortality rate
Neither83782.010.61
Ikigai only561025.95.46
Hobbies only18469.83.83
Both914184.72.17

The mortality rate was reduced even more for those with both Ikigai and hobbies. Interestingly, the mortality rate was lower for those with hobbies only versus ikigai only. The authors discussed possible explanations, with hobbies perhaps strengthening neural networks, and/or being the cause of physical activity, a higher quality of life etc.

One potential positive byproduct of the Covid-19 related lockdowns is people taking up new hobbies.

If so, the more the better.

A follow-up study to the one above, (2) found a “10% lower risk of death for 2 hobbies and 31% lower risk for 5 hobbies compared to zero hobbies”. Especially effective were hobbies that involved physical activity and/or social interaction.

Japan began a hiking boom in 2010, (3) which now is broadening into increased camping activity. (4)

Even stuck indoors looking at the walls presents something to draw – though it is better to ramble into the woods, draw, and chat to passersby.

References:

  1. Relationship of having hobbies and a purpose in life with mortality, activities of daily living, and instrumental activities of daily living among community-dwelling elderly adults, by Kimiko Tomioka, Norio Kurumatani, and Hiroshi Hosoi, March 5, 2016
  2. https://www.jages.net/library/pressrelease/?action=cabinet_action_main_download&block_id=4030&room_id=549&cabinet_id=253&file_id=9296&upload_id=11909
  3. Trends in Japan 2010: Yama boom, Japan Times, 20 December 2010
  4. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/bizstream/20210410/2074099/
Categories
Wellness

Japan: From Inbound to Micro Tourism

Yoshiharu Hoshino, CEO of Hoshino Resorts, presented under the auspices of the Columbia Business School on 1 April 2021 (Japan time). He described how, under an 18-month survival plan instituted in early 2020, “micro-tourism” customers had increased from under 10% of their facilities’ visitors to over 30%.

In the context of the collapse of Japan’s inbound tourism, table below, this has been an inspired, well executed pivot.

Inbound visitors 
201931.88 million
20204.12 million
YoY-87.1%
2020 Jan-Feb3.75 million
2021 Jan-Feb53,900
YoY-98.6%
Source: JNTO, Conceptasia, April 2021 

“Micro-tourism” refers to those able to access the facility without using airlines or the major train companies. The major transportation providers have not allowed passengers with a high fever to board, introducing the risk of becoming stranded if one becomes sick.

Hoshino Resorts, by delivering on anti-infection measures, and visibly demonstrating the associated increased costs to customers, has been able to maintain prices.

With local public festivals cancelled, marketing has highlighted the cultural and craft orientated activities available at their resorts. Customers who usually holiday overseas have also been targeted emphasizing the unique experiences on offer.

Japan’s tourism market 
InboundUS$44 billion
DomesticUS$204 billion
TotalUS$258 billion
OutboundUS$11 billion plus
Source: Hoshino Resorts, Conceptasia, April 2021 

Surveys suggest an ongoing cautiousness amongst Japanese even for domestic travel. For example, as discussed in a Nippon.com article of the 9th March 2021 here.

We believe inbound tourism reached maturity in 2019. The analysis is available here:

Japan-inbound-tourismDownload

The ability to innovate is essential to survival, in our opinion.

Hoshino Resorts is an example of this ability being put into practice well.

Categories
Wellness

Why meditation apps have struggled in Japan

The meditation app subsector has been growing rapidly globally, even before 2020 and the pandemic. The top ten meditation apps had revenues of US$195 million in 2019, up 52% from 2018’s US$128 million. (1) This was the fourth year of rapid growth. The revenues of the top ten meditation apps were estimated to be US$8 million in 2015, US$19 million in 2016 and US$55 million in 2017.

The dominant two apps with half the market are Calm and Headspace.

The former has been maintaining a market share around 33%, the latter around 16%. The third-place app has around a 6% market share followed by thousands of other apps. In 2019, Calm’s estimated revenues were US$92 million and Headspace’s US$56 million. In terms of paying subscribers, both Calm and Headspace claim to have over two million. This compares to many tens of millions of users who have downloaded the apps, but not become subscribers. In 2019, for example, Calm had 24 million first-time users, Headspace 13 million.

In Japan meditation apps are not yet popular

This could be because of the language barrier. Not just the navigation around the app needs to be in Japanese, but also the guided meditations. Guided meditation ranges from three minutes to thirty, and, in addition, live classes are being offered more frequently to help people feel connected.

Rather than a language barrier, a more likely explanation for the slow take-up rate in Japan is that meditation in the form of “focused attention” is already at the core of Japanese behavior.

Be it traditional customs such as flower arrangement (Ikebana), the tea ceremony (Sadou), calligraphy (Shodou) and cultivating miniature trees (Bonsai), or the Japanese martial arts (e.g., Aikido, Judo, Karate, Kendo, Jujutsu) or Shokunin (the continuously striving craftsman, e.g., Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2)) or the general attention to detail in all aspects of Japanese life, focused attention is practiced everywhere.

Traditional customs and martial arts remain on the curriculum of Japanese schools exposing all to the benefits of concentration and focus.

Unfortunately, Japanese schools have been impacted by the pandemic. Having closed during March-May 2020, restrictions on non-core activities have persisted after reopening. Club activities have been limited, events and trips cancelled, and talking during lunchtime forbidden. (3)

The latest online survey conducted by the National Center for Child Health and Development included questions on depressive symptoms, using international standards for measuring depression.

The results (4) indicate that in late 2020 a quarter of school children had moderate or higher symptoms of depression (table below).

As schools fail to deliver focused attention activities, perhaps meditation apps will become more popular in Japan.

Depressive symptoms (%) by age (years old) and severity

 10-1213-1516-18
Severe186
Somewhat severe749
Moderate81215
Sum of above162430
Mild232924
None624746

Notes: 10-12 years old (Shougakusei, 4-6 nen), 13-15 years old (Chuugakusei), 16-18 years old (kougakusei). Survey conducted online November/December 2020

Source: National Center for Child Health and Development, Conceptasia, March 2021

References:

  1. Top 10 meditation apps pulled in US$195 million in 2019, up 52% from 2018, by techcrunch.com, 31 January 2020. Underlying data from SensorTower.
  2. Jiro Dreams of Sushi, a 2011 Japanese-language American documentary film directed by David Gelb.
  3. Nippon.com: https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h00943/?cx_recs_click=true
  4. National Center for Child Health and Development: http://www.ncchd.go.jp/center/activity/covid19_kodomo/report/CxC4_finalrepo_20210210.pdf
Categories
Wellness

Suicides and Covid-19

Japan’s National Police Agency releases monthly data on suicides on a timely basis. Other countries are more reticent. The latest US data, for example, is 2018. Japanese suicides rose 3.7% in 2020, up by 750 people to 20,919. This was the first increase in 11 years.

How to interpret the data?

The Covid-19 pandemic and the associated government policy responses are an easy explanation.

The pandemic/policy responses have caused:

  1. An increase in unemployment, financial insecurity
  2. A deterioration in mental wellness resiliency due to social isolation, fear of infection, potential stigma, and victimization
  3. Stay-at-home lockdowns, confinement, heightened risks of domestic violence, child neglect/abuse
  4. Mental health services’ access problems
  5. Increased bereavement, intensified by separation issues

The above is in addition to 6) the exacerbation of already present mental illness, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc.

However, the above just changes the question to:

What is the relative importance of the factors?

Has the pick-up in suicides been more, or less, than experts in the field expected?

To address these questions a model is needed. This is discussed and presented in our 8-page PDF article, link at the end, below.

Conclusions

Reflecting how employment, one’s company, remains at the core of identity in Japan, suicides are relatively sensitive to economic factors (proxied by the unemployment rate) even when modified for additional material factors.

Based on this modified unemployment rate model, the increase in the number of suicides in 2020 could have been over 1,000, rather than the 750 recorded.

Japanese unemployment peaked at 3.1% in October 2020 and had fallen to 2.9% in December.

To expect suicides in Japan to fall year-overt-year in 2021, we must hope for the 2021 annual unemployment rate to be below the 2.8% rate of 2020.

The full 8-page PDF article is here:

https://wellnessasianopportunities.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Suicides-and-Covid-19-M.pdf