OKINAWA, Japan has had the highest proportion of centenarians among Japan's prefectures for the past 13 years in a row, based on figures available since 1990. For Japan as a whole, the number of centenarians per 10,000 is 14.09; Okinawa tops the nation with 39.50. The total number of centenarians in Japan is 17,934; 525 of them live in Okinawa, the largest number of any prefecture.
Further more, 80% of Okinawa's elderly live independently, requiring no hospital or nursing home care. Most older people have an independent spirit and manage quite nicely on their own with support from family and the community and in close and significant communication with those around them.
Okinawa's leading longevity community, Ogimi Village, has declared itself Japan's longevity "number one." In a village population of 3,500, 1,056 people are over 65 and there are 80 people over 90. Most of the older people live on their own, enjoying a balanced lifestyle amid rich natural surroundings in a close-knit community. We talked to some of the elderly women in Ogimi Village.
Ogimi Village is on the coast, with the ocean to the west and the mountains to the east. The town is famous as the home of Bashofu (banana fiber). However, there isn't much work available in town. Many young people do leave for other parts of Japan or other places in the prefecture, yet they keep up the old ways and diligently observe festivals and special occasions.
In this relaxed setting surrounded by nature, most older people live alone or with their spouse. However, they are by no means shunned by society or living in solitary loneliness. Quite the contrary, they live in a community of mutual care and assistance. There is constant visiting back and forth with their children and grandchildren in the cities, and a bringing and taking of vegetables and homemade treats. Many of the older people get a lot of enjoyment from this.
Their daily diet is heavily made up of vegetables grown in their own gardens or fields together with tofu. They eat Chanpuru, they eat soup with lots of good things in it. They eat pork or fish at least several times a week and pork, of course, is featured in the meals served on monthly special occasions.
When someone is feeling a little unwell, they will eat time-tested "Kusuimun" (healthful food), specific food or foods depending on the nature of their illness. Many festivals and traditional observances are kept up. Nobody excludes the older people just because they are elderly. Far from it, the older folks are important participants. They join in wholeheartedly and, moreover, these are the times when village people living elsewhere come home, making a festival a joyous and lively time indeed. Thus, the village elderly are connected to village people living elsewhere by invisible but strong bonds.
Older people thoroughly enjoy recreational activities like gate ball, dance, and singing accompanied by the Shamisen. The gate ball field is enjoyed as a place of relaxation but it is also fun when it becomes the scene of lively competition.
When you see these vigorous older people with their "still on active duty" spirit eating a protein-rich diet of vegetables, pork and tofu, living close to nature and enjoying adequate physical activity, you want to cry, "This is it!" Truly, a balanced life is the secret of a long life.
Meet
Kyo Miyagi (80)
Miyagi-san moved from Ogimi to Ishigaki 30 or so years ago. Then, 15 years ago, she came back to the village to live with her son and his family. Kyo-san is famous for her "Umu" potato confections. She loves making them for the children and grandchildren who take them to school for snacks.
Kyo-san says she really likes tofu and eats it every day. Making her own confections to give a little joy to everyone - that, she says, is one of the things that makes her life worthwhile.
http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp
Copyright(C)
Okinawa Prefectural Government
All rights reserved.
Ogimi Village is on the coast, with the ocean to the west and the mountains to the east. The town is famous as the home of Bashofu (banana fiber). However, there isn't much work available in town. Many young people do leave for other parts of Japan or other places in the prefecture, yet they keep up the old ways and diligently observe festivals and special occasions.
In this relaxed setting surrounded by nature, most older people live alone or with their spouse. However, they are by no means shunned by society or living in solitary loneliness. Quite the contrary, they live in a community of mutual care and assistance. There is constant visiting back and forth with their children and grandchildren in the cities, and a bringing and taking of vegetables and homemade treats. Many of the older people get a lot of enjoyment from this.
Their daily diet is heavily made up of vegetables grown in their own gardens or fields together with tofu. They eat Chanpuru, they eat soup with lots of good things in it. They eat pork or fish at least several times a week and pork, of course, is featured in the meals served on monthly special occasions.
When someone is feeling a little unwell, they will eat time-tested "Kusuimun" (healthful food), specific food or foods depending on the nature of their illness. Many festivals and traditional observances are kept up. Nobody excludes the older people just because they are elderly. Far from it, the older folks are important participants. They join in wholeheartedly and, moreover, these are the times when village people living elsewhere come home, making a festival a joyous and lively time indeed. Thus, the village elderly are connected to village people living elsewhere by invisible but strong bonds.
Older people thoroughly enjoy recreational activities like gate ball, dance, and singing accompanied by the Shamisen. The gate ball field is enjoyed as a place of relaxation but it is also fun when it becomes the scene of lively competition.
When you see these vigorous older people with their "still on active duty" spirit eating a protein-rich diet of vegetables, pork and tofu, living close to nature and enjoying adequate physical activity, you want to cry, "This is it!" Truly, a balanced life is the secret of a long life.
Meet Kyo Miyagi (80)
Miyagi-san moved from Ogimi to Ishigaki 30 or so years ago. Then, 15 years ago, she came back to the village to live with her son and his family. Kyo-san is famous for her "Umu" potato confections. She loves making them for the children and grandchildren who take them to school for snacks.
Kyo-san says she really likes tofu and eats it every day. Making her own confections to give a little joy to everyone - that, she says, is one of the things that makes her life worthwhile.
http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp
Copyright(C)
Okinawa Prefectural Government
All rights reserved.
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