A case study on a retired yokozuna wrestler Sumo wrestling is by no means an easy sport, and perhaps hardest of all is afterwards, when a wrestler decides to retire. When a sumo wrestler decides to retire, a return to a normal lifestyle means a return to a normal weight — no easy feat when […]
The Order in Which to Properly Eat Food, Inspired by Kaiseki-Ryori
Better mindfulness will bring better health I was with my parents, and we were at a Japanese restaurant somewhere in Tokyo. A rather small and humble place, with only a small sign out front that you’d probably miss had you not been looking for it. But once you stepped inside, you were welcomed with warm […]
This Japanese Mountain Yam Will Boost Your Rice Game
A vegetable-loaded alternative to plain rice On a lazy weekend morning when I’m hungry but unwilling to spend more than 10 minutes in the kitchen, healthy and vegetable-rich dishes often take a backseat. But to prevent such habits, I have a repertoire of quick and simple ways to add more fresh vegetables to my meals, […]
A Vegetable Unexpectedly Rich in Umami
A common powerhouse ingredient you probably enjoy anyways There are some vegetables that I have always known to be rich in umami: sea vegetables like kombu or nori, or mushrooms like shiitake and shimeji. These vegetables are staples in my home, and have been a fundamental part of Japanese food for thousands of years. But […]
How a Sick City Became the Healthiest Place in Japan
Trade shaming for moderation If you type into the Google search bar, “What is the healthiest prefecture in Japan?” one spot comes out on top in big, bold letters: Nagano Prefecture. Some people might be surprised, expecting Okinawa to be the healthiest prefecture. The Okinawan diet is famous around the world and its people are […]
The Biggest Reason Why the Okinawan Diet Works
Okinawa, an island prefecture in southern Japan, stands out among a country that is already well known for longevity. They have a much lower rate of coronary heart disease compared to mainland Japan. A separate study on Japanese centennials living in Okinawa, where the researcher went back and analyzed at what age these individuals were […]
The Peculiar Response Japanese Centenarians Give When You Ask Them What They Eat
How to eat for a long and happy life I was recently reminded of Japan’s high longevity rate when I came across a headline in The Japan Times: “Centenarians top 80,000 for first time.” According to information released by Japan’s health ministry in July, Japan’s average life expectancy was 87.45 for women and 81.41 for […]
How to Convince a Child to Eat a Strange-looking Vegetable
The good fortune of eating your vegetables I was first introduced to lotus root when I was a child, when I’d fly back to Japan to visit my grandmother in the summer. Adamant that I get more exposure to Japanese foods, she would always bring home and cook with whatever she felt I couldn’t get […]
