Misc
Breaking News! Say Hello to an Old-Obese-Otaku-Free Japan!
A pizza fat CC is fine too.
From NY Times:
Under a national law that came into effect two months ago, companies and local governments must now measure the waistlines of Japanese people between the ages of 40 and 74 as part of their annual checkups. That represents more than 56 million waistlines, or about 44 percent of the entire population.
Those exceeding government limits — 33.5 inches for men and 35.4 inches for women, which are identical to thresholds established in 2005 for Japan by the International Diabetes Federation as an easy guideline for identifying health risks — and having a weight-related ailment will be given dieting guidance if after three months they do not lose weight. If necessary, those people will be steered toward further re-education after six more months.
To reach its goals of shrinking the overweight population by 10 percent over the next four years and 25 percent over the next seven years, the government will impose financial penalties on companies and local governments that fail to meet specific targets. The country’s Ministry of Health argues that the campaign will keep the spread of diseases like diabetes and strokes in check.
This news was brought to my attention the other day by an officemate who suddenly wept and mourned over his inability to enter the Land of the Rising Sun overflowing with otaku-milk and honey now that this Fitness Law has been passed. “Now it’s a sin to be endowed with great fats and muscles?!”, cries the young lad. I guess the rise of the obesity rate from 3% to 10% became so alarming for Japan that they were prompted to pass this law and make their country obese-free. And next thing you know, they’ll be banning chocolates to promote good health.
On a positive note, this means that oldies, parents and grandparents will be forced into a healthy and active lifestyle in order to stay fit and meet the aforementioned requirements, considering that 41% of Japanese people hardly exercise, according to Danny Choo. I just can’t help but think that this is some scheme by Nintendo to get more people into WiiFit.
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21 comments for “Breaking News! Say Hello to an Old-Obese-Otaku-Free Japan!”
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LOL, Chocolate Underground.
damn you Nintendo!!!! damn your wiifit!!!
Odd that it is not a ratio. What if you are very tall and muscular? I wonder if exceptions are ever made.
LOL my Japanese coworkers told me about that last week. I loled so hard
Looks like as long as you don’t get sick you can be fat, though.
Ha. That’s what you get Japan for eating our fatty American food. But seriously, the word “re-education” alone made me laugh out loud.
I see no problem, but it is quite strange, and yea I ask the same question as Kabitzin… why not BMI even?
Really, it’s not so hard to stay in shape, but getting in shape can be a pain in the arse. ^^
Not a lot of people in my area are particularly worried. We’re all poor and eat peasant food so we’re all thin.
If I become fat, then maybe my parents will finally buy me a wiifit
Wow I think It’s Weird to pass a law like that….
But it is Good So that Humans Can Have longer lives haha^^
Good job. It is all for the sake of public..
my officemates and I were wondering the same thing about this law… why not use BMI which is the more accurate way of ‘measuring’ obesity?
I’m not really sure what prompted them to have this law, since the obesity rate in Japan isn’t that alarming. A preventive measure perhaps? Like they want to maintain or further improve their low obesity rate? Talk about maintaining an ‘image’ to the max… they’re taking it to a different level orz.
And the thing is, being not obese != being healthy… what if the anorexia rate in Japan increase because of this?
(random thought lol)
I wonder what sumo wrestlers think of this obesity law…and who would be brave enough to measure their waist lines…
@Teru: lol, perhaps sumo wrestlers will be the only ones exempted from this law. So if people want to maintain their ‘obesity’, go the sumo way. The real problem is when they retire from sumo wrestling… realll problem
I actually agree with this, Authoritarian-state FTW!!~
Japanese food is actually deceptively fatty. All them instant noodles, fried food (~yaki), soya/mayonaise sauce and sweets/snacks. Go check the back of the packets to see if I am right.
I totally agree about the BMI. At the moment it doesn’t matter about your height to mass index - so you might be perfectly fit but still over the allowed inches on your waist!
As to the sumos - I’m sure they are excluded from this requirement : )
Be interesting to see how this one pans out. Good idea but maybe a little more thought required.
@Teeif: fatty and raw (sushi) too, unhealthy indeed~ They seem to counter every unhealthy food they have with… green tea lol.
@Honor: I wonder how the Japanese are reacting to this news now… would love to see angry rants or sarcastic comments lol.
Hi Usagijen,
I was just looking for a thread I commented on about this in Tokyo but it’s expired! Gomen! I can tell you that most Japanese are not affected by this at all … yet. Most feedback is coming from Westerners. I’m keeping my eye on Danny Choo and others as they are usually good at picking up shifts in feeling. Will keep you posted if more comes up.
Hopefully angry rants to come
@Honor: aw that’s ok. Hoping to hear great rants from you (and others)! lol
…SHES ON TO US!!! *take piles of money*
@ Nintendo: Ummm, yea, its me again, your loyal Nintendo Fanboy. I’ve had these 90-100 dollars in my wallet for awhile now (graduation money! =D)… If you would be so kind as to STOCK UP ON WII-FIT, then I would be happy to buy a copy! Oh, and make more Mario Karts too! I find it funny (and sad) that stores have piles of “Wii Wheels” but no “Mario Kart Wii”… what am I supposed to do with this plastic with no game!!! I’VE ALREADY TRIED THE OBVIOUS ACTIONS: *puts his thing where the Wii remote is supposed to in the Wii Wheel* and that didn’t go as planned… in fact, I don’t know what I was planning OR thinking when i put my thingy in there… I definitely can’t play any games like this…
@Jesus159: if you’re that active you don’t even need a WiiFit anymore!