Shikata ga nai...

Why do people live so long in Japan? According to government data, the number of people in Japan above 90 years old has reached one million. Rowan Hooper notes in an interesting article in The Japan Times today that it could be due to Japan's culture of shikata ga nai (it cannot be helped). If something happens, Japanese people will often say "shikata ga nai" and get on with the situation, without rupturing blood vessels in frustration.

He thinks that the easygoing nature of the Japanese, exemplified by "shikata ga nai," could partly explain the long lifespans in this country.

He also suggests that it could be due to Buddhism. While most Japanese don't chant and meditate like monks every day, the culture is steeped in Buddhism, even if it's not obvious. Buddhism and "shikata ga nai" keep blood pressure down, then that's a good thing for longevity.

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