Japan is the only country with most people unhappy to live to 100, survey shows

Just 21 per cent of Japanese say they expect to be happy when they reach 100, according to a survey of six countries
Most Japanese say they fear being a burden to their families or have few new experiences when they hit the century mark

Japan

Julian Ryall

Published: 8:00am, 22 Mar 2024

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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 released on Monday shows that 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 100-year lifespans,” said Takashi Tanaka, the 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 there also focus on the positive aspects,” he added.

According to the report, the negative aspects the Japanese tend to focus on include not wanting to be a burden to family or friends as they age and the “difficulties” associated with being a centenarian, the report said. Respondents in the other countries involved in the study – the US, China, South Korea, Germany and Finland – also shared similar concerns.

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The Japanese respondents were markedly more pessimistic when it came to other questions as well. Only a mere 28.7 per cent said that 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 said they expect to be happy when they reach 100, while 65 per cent of Americans and 51 per cent of Germans anticipate having new opportunities as they grow older.

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 the United Nations’ International Day of Happiness on Wednesday, with researchers quizzing 2,800 Japanese people aged between 20 and 79 about their thoughts on ageing, along with a similar number of people in the other countries.

Kanako Hosomura, a 41-year-old housewife from Yokohama, says she would be “happy to live to 100, but only if I am physically and mentally able to take care of myself.

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“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 told This Week in Asia. “But if I can get around and my mind is still sound, then why not live to 100?”

Hosomura said she worries that she may become more pessimistic about the future as she ages, 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 have a different attitude towards longevity than the rest of Japan.

“There are many reasons why people here live longer, but the basic one is ‘ikegai’,” 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 have a good diet that is high in vegetables, fruit and seafood while they have also preserved a strong sense of community, Suzuki said.

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“Of course, I want to live to 100,” he said. “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 is critical and pointed out that she still teaches 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 is a daily session of karate, which acts 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 are less happy with their lives in comparison with others, with the country’s 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 nation at 7.4 out of 10, followed by Finland with 6.8 and Germany with 6.6.

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Japanese were similarly pessimistic about the future of the country, ranking last in response to questions about the “overall brightness” of Japan, the possibility of increased happiness and economic growth.

“Looking at the results of the survey, to increase happiness and increase the number of people who are thinking about living a 100-year life it is as important to feel the happiness of the people around you as it is to think about your happiness,” said Tanaka.