Welcome to part 2 of our 4 part series on how to live to 100! Last week we took a trip to the mountain villages of Sardinia, Italy for some pecorino cheese, red wine, and a good time (read here). This week we travel to the Okinawa Island of Japan.

Blue zone’ has quickly become the buzz word for areas where people live significantly healthier and longer lives. Popularized by New York Times bestselling author and National Geographic fellow Dan Buetter, the study of blue zones gives us a glimpse into the mindset & lifestyle of the long living.

‘Ikigai’ – a common Okinawan saying meaning ‘that which makes one’s life worth living’

The Freedom Blog has embarked on a 4 part blog series, in which we explore 3 remarkable blue zones and then neatly tie them together to help you live a healthier and longer life.

Our ‘Blue Zone‘ series:

  • Part 1. Mountain villages of Sardinia, Italy (read here)
  • Part 2. Pacific Island of Okinawa, Japan (today’s article)
  • Part 3. The Adventists of Loma Linda, California
  • Part 4. How you can live to 100. What do they all have in common?

Always wanted to visit Japan? Now you can say it’s for Health

Okinawa (translated as “rope of the sea“) is the largest of the Okinawan islands, located 400 miles south of Japan. Inhabitants of this subtropical paradise are considered the longest living people in the world. Their other claim to fame, the lowest rates of heart disease, stroke, and cancer – leading killers in the Western world.

These declarations are far from just an estimate, they are based on empirical fact. Amazingly, regular censuses have been taken in every city, town, and village throughout Japan for over 100 years. In addition, the Japan ministry of health funds the Okinawa Centenarian Study, which has studied over 600 Okinawan centenarians, trying to explain the phenomenal health and longevity of the Okinawan population.

According to the U.S. 2010 Census, the current rate of centenarians in the U.S. is 17.3 per 100,000. In Okinawa, there are approximately 50 centenarians per 100,000 people! According to Okinawans, there’s a purpose behind this all.

Purpose is everything

Okinawan’s have a common saying– Ikigai – which roughly translates as “that which makes one’s life worth living.” It’s important to discover your purpose in Okinawan, whether it be your social roles, your career, your health, helping others, or your longevity itself. A study by Patrick Hill & Nicholas Turiano followed over 6,000 participants over the course of 14 years. They focused on participants’ self-reported ‘purpose in life’. After 14 years, approximately 9% of the participants had passed away. A significant number of those who had died were also those who reported no or little self-purpose.

Luckily, anyone can find a purpose! And a purpose can be anything. It could be your own longevity, friendships, volunteering, truly anything. And the best part… it can/should be something you truly enjoy. Something that makes you jump out of bed.

Why so healthy, Okinawans?

  1. Lifelong friends. We’re social creatures. Countless studies have shown the dangers of social isolation, with research from Debra Umberson & Jennifer Karas Montez finding that the higher the number of social roles one has  (e.g., mother, sister, daughter, group member, volunteer, pet owner, etc.) the healthier you are and the longer you live. A possible explanation for Okinawans could be that certain relationships promote positive health behaviors. In Okinawa, islanders grew up in close-knit villages where they continually reinforced each other’s healthy behaviors. Afternoon tea, tending to the garden, healthy eating, long walks on the beach – it’s all better with a friend. And when you’ve been best friends for over 90 years, those healthy behaviors are that much more ingrained. See our article on ‘3 Ways our Relationships Change as we Age‘ for a glimpse into what to expect in your relationships as you age.
  2. Undereating. Okinawans eat by the maxim hara hacki bu. This means “8 out of 10 parts full.” Overeating has plagued the developed world with restaurants touting the largest plates, platters, supersized meals, food eating competitions, and all-you-can-eat buffets. Besides the obvious side effects of obesity and diabetes, there have been preliminary research findings that suggest overeating has damaging effects on the body as the digestive system metabolizes excess food.
  3. Physical Exertion. Senior Okinawans tend to have incredibly clean arteries and low instances of heart disease compared to mainland Japan and the West. Physical exercise is a non-negotiable part of their routines. Stretching and strength-conditioning on the beach, tending to the garden, walking to a friend’s home across town – daily physical activity is a way of life in Okinawa.
  4. Food Nutrition. Chinese radishes, scallions, turmeric, tomatoes, garlic are just a few of the low glycemic staples of the Okinawa diet. The Okinawan diet grew from a time of food scarcity when they became ever dependent on stretching each calorie. They ‘eat low down the food chain’, vegetables are a mainstay, while fish and other forms of seafood are consumed about 3 times a week. Many islanders tend to their own gardens, growing purple sweet potatoes (high in vitamin E), and “goya” (cucumber with a bitter taste). A diverse diet that covers all the nutritional bases and skips the sugar we crave in the West.
  5. Elders are Valued. Longevity brings pride to one’s family and village. Longevity becomes a purpose in itself for Okinawan seniors. As we spoke to earlier, purpose motivates individuals to maintain their routines, retain their social circles, and get out of bed in the morning. As a senior it’s all that more important to have an external purpose as raising a family and one’s career – social roles that once provided purpose – have likely ended.

There you have it! The long flight to Japan is well worth it. If you enjoyed this article, just wait for part 3 of our series when we explore the 7th day Adventist members of Loma Linda, California. What are your tips for a long and healthy life? Please share! As always, it was a pleasure!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider sharing it on Facebook or Twitter below.

P.S. We’d love to meet you on Twitter here or on Facebook here