Although Japan performed well in promoting the population's health status, several challenges for the Japanese health system remain. Cancer, heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease, the three leading causes of death, have contributed to approximately 50% of the population's lifetime risk [17].
Three major diseases in Japan, cancer, heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) are the leading causes of death in Japan. This study aimed to clarify the social burden of these diseases, including long-term care (LTC), and to predict future trends.
Since 1981, the leading cause of death in Japan has been cancer, which accounted for 27% of total deaths in 2018, followed by heart disease at 15% [3]. The recent longevity of Japanese is due to the low mortality rate of these diseases, which account for nearly half of total deaths.
The three major diseases in Japan that have been the leading causes of death since the 1950s are cancer (ICD-10 codes C00–C97, D00–D09), heart disease (I01–I02. 0, I05–I09, I20–I25, I27, I30–I52), and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) (I60–I69).
Japanese life expectancy
This low mortality is mainly attributable to a low rate of obesity, low consumption of red meat, and high consumption of fish and plant foods such as soybeans and tea. In Japan, the obesity rate is low (4.8% for men and 3.7% for women).
Japan's success in avoiding the obesity problem faced by most of the western world is down to three main factors: an appreciation of good food from cradle to grave, a lifestyle that encourages incidental exercise, and a large dollop of paternalism.
Ischaemic heart disease was the leading single cause of deaths in Australia, responsible for 17,331 deaths in 2021, about one in 10 of total deaths that year. Males were more prone to the disease, accounting for 10,371 (59.8%) of the deaths compared to 6,960 (40.2%) for females.
Cardiovascular disease is the top cause of death globally. In the map we see death rates from cardiovascular diseases across the world.
Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is an extremely rare disease known to have a worldwide distribution with higher prevalence among Japanese and other Asiatic individuals. The clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical features appear to point to a viral etiology, a hypothesis that still has not been proven.
“Typical Japanese diets are characterized by plant-based food, such as rice, vegetables and soybeans, and seafoods,” says Shoichiro Tsugane, director of the National Institute of Health and Nutrition. “Non-sugary beverages such as green tea are mainly consumed during and between meals.
As their diet is traditionally high in soy and fish this may also play a significant role in reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. The Japanese also have the lowest rates of obesity among men and women as well as long life expectancy.
Kodokushi (孤独死) or lonely death is a Japanese phenomenon of people dying alone and remaining undiscovered for a long period of time. First described in the 1980s, kodokushi has become an increasing problem in Japan, attributed to economic troubles and Japan's increasingly elderly population.
Only 3.6 percent of Japanese have a body mass index (BMI) over 30, which is the international standard for obesity, whereas 32.0 percent of Americans do. A total of 66.5 percent of Americans have a BMI over 25, making them overweight, but only 24.7 percent of Japanese.
Influenza, pharyngoconjunctival fever, group A streptococcal pharyngitis, chicken pox, erythema infectiosum, epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, and pertussis showed an epidemic trend before the COVID-19 outbreak, and the ratio of cases in 2020 to those in 2019 ranged from 0.17 to 0.56 ( ...
In Japan, natural disasters occur frequently. Since the archipelago is situated along the Ring of Fire, an area where several tectonic plates meet, it is vulnerable to natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. Many people are reported missing or killed by natural disasters every year.
There were 171,469 deaths registered in 2021, an increase of 10,169 from 2020 (161,300). There were more male deaths (89,401) than female deaths (82,068), resulting in a sex ratio of 108.9 male deaths for every 100 female deaths.
The deadliest disease in the world is coronary artery disease (CAD). Also known as ischemic heart disease, CAD occurs when the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart become narrowed. Untreated CAD can lead to chest pain, heart failure, and arrhythmias.
Asian people have the longest average life expectancy (83.5 years) and American Indian/Alaska Natives the shortest (65.2 years).
1. Monaco. One of the smallest countries in the world, Monaco also has the UN's longest estimated life expectancy of any country as of 2023. Males in Monaco are expected to live an average of 85.17 years, and females are expected to live an even longer 88.99 years, for an overall average of 87.01 years.
Sardinia, Italy – home to the world's longest-lived men. Okinawa, Japan – home to the world's longest-lived women. Loma Linda, California – Seventh-day Adventist community that outlives the average American by a decade. Ikaria, Greece – tiny island community with significantly reduced rates of common chronic illnesses.
It's a combination of the walking, biking, eating smaller portions, and eating more seafood and veggies, that leads to the Japanese being pretty darn healthy in general. Any one of these changes would be a big improvement for most of us in America.
As per IDF 2021 estimates, 11 million adults in Japan have diabetes. The high prevalence of diabetes is associated with a significant economic burden and can be attributed to lifestyle changes and increased longevity.