Okinawan
Sitting upright on the floor is common in many situations in Japan. For example, meals are traditionally held on a tatami floor around a low table. Sitting on the floor is also customary during the tea ceremony and other traditional events.
Typically the Japanese eat at low dining tables and sit on a cushion placed on tatami floor (a reed-like mat). In formal situations both men and women kneel (“seiza”), while in casual situations the men sit cross-legged and women sit with both legs to one side.
Seiza helps open up the ankle and knee joints. It puts pressure on the core muscles, engages them, trains them and makes them stronger. It helps stretch your muscles. Seiza helps correct your posture and strengthen your spinal cord.
'proper sitting') is the formal, traditional way of sitting in Japan. It involves a specific positioning and posture in a kneeled position so as to convey respect, particularly toward elders. It developed among samurai during the Edo period and was later widely adopted by the public.
Sitting on the floor also improves posture and increases overall strength, flexibility, and mobility. Studies correlate the “ability to sit and rise from the floor without support” with a longer life expectancy. Sitting on the floor also develops musculoskeletal fitness.
Portions are smaller. People are more likely to drink water or unsweetened tea than juice or fizzy drinks. Japanese eat more red meat than they used to, but more fish than Europeans and Americans. School lunches inculcate good eating habits early, being simple, healthy and low in calories.
If you're doing seiza for a short period of time, you can sit for about 20 minutes without any issues. If you're going to be sitting longer than that, it's important to take breaks, and make sure you get up and move around every once in a while.
When eating from shared dishes (as it is commonly done at some restaurants such as izakaya), it is polite to use the opposite end of your chopsticks or dedicated serving chopsticks for moving food to your own dish. Blowing your nose at the table, burping and audible munching are considered bad manners in Japan.
Without chairs or bedding, the Japanese generally used the floor to sit and sleep on. This is because the Japanese believe in the concept of ma, or negative space, and a desire for simplicity. Objects would be placed very far apart, as the traditional Japanese believed that this space encouraged creativity.
Before eating, Japanese people say "itadakimasu," a polite phrase meaning "I receive this food." This expresses thanks to whoever worked to prepare the food in the meal.
In countries like India, Japan, and China, eating while seated on the floor serves as a habit, ritual, and wellness practice all in one. Resting in Sukhasana, or "easy" pose, forces you to sit taller with every bite, and improves mobility in the hips and ankles.
And it's not that they don't sit down – they just do it in a healthier way. People often sit on the floor for meals or socialising in a kneeling position known as 'seiza'. The position involves resting on your shins and tucking your feet underneath your bottom. This helps to maintain strength and flexibility.
While it looks nice and dignified, the downside to seiza is that it can put a lot of your weight right on top of the tender ligaments of your knees, ankles, and other lower body parts. Even many modern Japanese people find seiza incredibly uncomfortable.
Take a break from sitting every 30 minutes. Stand while talking on the phone or watching television. If you work at a desk, try a standing desk — or improvise with a high table or counter. Walk with your colleagues for meetings rather than sitting in a conference room.
Seiza is the formal way of sitting down based on ancient Japanese standards. In Japanese, Seiza aptly translates into “sitting with a correct posture”. That comes with neatly folded legs and an erect spine.
Most public spaces in Japan are reasonably plus size friendly, with a few things to consider. Restaurants and Bars: Most large establishments have very accommodating seating, although booths can be snug. Some smaller restaurants and izakayas may only have (small, backless) stools for seating.
Japanese people are very active in their everyday lives. Most of them use public transportation and walk a lot, unless they live in a rural area. Japanese people walk an average of 8000 steps a day; a total burn of 220 calories for those weighing 45kg.
To decide if a person is fat or obese, one must calculate their size, body type, and age. Anyone with a BMI of 22kgs/m2 and above is considered fat in Japan. Women in Japan consider themselves overweight if their BMI is above 23kgs/m2. On the other hand, the Japanese say their men are fat if their BMI exceeds 25kg/m2.