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Japan Today
a day ago
- Health
- Japan Today
Japan whooping cough cases hit record above 50,000
Colony of the Bordetella pertussis bacterium that causes pertussis, a whooping cough. The number of whooping cough cases in Japan this year has surpassed 50,000 for the first time since comparable data became available in 2018, figures from a national health research institute showed Tuesday. Preliminary data from the Japan Institute for Health Security showed that the number of cases reported by hospitals and clinics across the country in the July 14-20 period reached 3,908, marking a record-high for the fifth consecutive week. It brought the cumulative total to 52,490, topping the previous record of 16,845 cases in the whole of 2019. A highly infectious bacterial disease, whooping cough, also known as pertussis, begins with cold-like symptoms and gradually progresses to severe coughing. Infants are particularly susceptible to developing severe complications, such as pneumonia and encephalitis, which can prove fatal. © KYODO
Asahi Shimbun
22-07-2025
- Health
- Asahi Shimbun
Lower risk of depression may be tied to diet of Japanese food
A study's take on an improved version of a typical Japanese meal adds a glass of milk, switches white rice for brown rice and swaps pickled vegetables and plums with raw vegetables and fruit. (Kenji Tamura) A research team at the Japan Institute for Health Security says there is a correlation between people whose meals frequently consist of traditional Japanese dishes and the trend of being less likely to develop depressive symptoms. The team reached this conclusion after surveying about 12,500 employees across five companies headquartered in the Kanto and Tokai regions between fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2020. Respondents answered questions about their lifestyle habits such as alcohol consumption and sleep patterns, as well as how often and what type of food and dishes they usually consume. NO SINGLE CURE-ALL DISH The research team then created a 'traditional Japanese food score' based on the questionnaire's answers. Individual respondents received higher scores if their diet frequently featured white rice, miso soup, soy-based dishes, cooked vegetables, mushrooms, seaweed, fish and green tea. Salted fare in the vein of pickled vegetables and dried fish was also included. Earlier surveys often highlighted the relationship between a single type of food and wellness, such as 'natto (fermented soybeans) is good for health.' However, researchers are increasingly focusing instead on diet patterns and health rather than individual ingredients to more realistically account for meals consisting of multiple dishes and ingredients. The survey addressed mental health by asking participants about 11 mood-related experiences over the past week that included "feeling down" and having "trouble sleeping." Those who scored nine points or more were classified as having "depressive symptoms." Participants were divided into four groups based on their traditional Japanese food scores spanning from highest to lowest. This was done in order to next examine the relationship between diet and depression. The results showed a trend: the higher the traditional Japanese food scores, the less likely the participant was to also have depressive symptoms. In the group with the lowest scores, 35.8 percent were classified as having depressive symptoms. In contrast, only 25.3 percent of those in the highest-scoring group fell into this category. After statistically adjusting for differences in age, education, working overtime, alcohol consumption and sleep duration so these factors would not affect the survey results, the analysis revealed that the highest-scoring group had a 17 percent lower rate of depressive symptoms compared to the lowest-scoring group. Folate, or vitamin B9, may be a contributing factor in the survey results. Found in seaweed, soy-based dishes and certain vegetables, it is believed to help synthesize the brain's neurotransmitters that regulate hormones and blood pressure, among other functions. Previous studies have additionally highlighted omega-3 fatty acids that fish are rich in as supporting neurotransmitter functionality. AN 'IMPROVED' JAPANESE MEAL The traditional Japanese diet is not infallible, however. As a refined grain, white rice contains relatively little dietary fiber and materials. Traditional Japanese meals also tend to lack dairy products, raw vegetables and fruit, while "tsukemono" (pickled vegetables) and dried fish tend to be high in sodium. To address these shortcomings, the research team also developed a 'modified traditional Japanese food score.' This new version assigns higher points for frequent consumption of less-refined grains like brown rice, as well as milk and dairy products, raw vegetables and fruit. Conversely, it gives lower scores for frequent consumption of salt-heavy dishes such as tsukemono and dried fish. Using these modified scores to assess depressive symptoms revealed a trend similar to the results based on the traditional Japanese food scores. There was no distinct difference in the correlations observed using either score. Since the study asked participants about their dietary patterns and depressive symptoms at the same time, further follow-up studies are needed to determine whether regularly eating Japanese food is truly tied to mental well-being. 'We'd like to conduct further research by using long-term data to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and depression,' said Haruka Miyake, a senior researcher at Japan Institute for Health Security and a member of the research team that conducted the survey.
14-07-2025
- Health
Fifth Disease Inflections in Japan Hit 26-Yr High
News from Japan Jul 14, 2025 17:57 (JST) Tokyo, July 14 (Jiji Press)--The number of patients with fifth disease, or slapped cheek syndrome, in Japan hit the highest level in some 26 years in the week that ended June 22, according to data compiled by the Japan Institute for Health Security. The number of fifth disease patients reported by some 2,000 medical institutions nationwide stood at 2.53 per institution in the week, the highest since the current counting method was adopted in 1999. In the following week through June 29, the figure came to 2.13, the third highest. Japan's health ministry is urging pregnant women to consult medical institutions if they experience symptoms, as infections can lead to miscarriages. Fifth disease is a viral infection that primarily affects children up to nine years old, though adults can also contract it. The incubation period for the disease ranges from 10 to 20 days. After this, symptoms such as low fevers and headaches appear, followed by red rashes on both cheeks. Rashes can spread to other parts of the body including limbs, and typically disappear in about a week. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Sinar Daily
09-07-2025
- Health
- Sinar Daily
Japan's whooping cough cases hit weekly record of over 3,300
The highly contagious acute respiratory tract infection, also known as pertussis, may lead to other complications like pneumonia or encephalopathy, which could be fatal, especially for infants up to six months old. 09 Jul 2025 03:16pm People wearing facemasks amid concerns over the spread of the Covid-19 walk across the Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo on May 26, 2020. - (Photo by BEHROUZ MEHRI / AFP) TOKYO - Whooping cough cases in Japan hit a new weekly record of 3,353 cases, the highest since the current survey method began in 2018, according to the Japan Institute for Health Security, reported Xinhua. Preliminary data from the national health research institute showed that the latest figure reported by medical institutions across the country in the week through June 29 went up 142 from the previous week. The country logged 39,672 cases of the infectious bacterial disease, characterised by spasmodic coughing attacks, from the start of the year, a significant increase from the roughly 4,000 reported for all of 2024, the institute said. Passengers wearing facemasks travel on a tramway in Setagaya district in Tokyo on June 6, 2020.- (Photo by PHILIP FONG / AFP) Since early April, the number of patients reported across the country has been exceeding 1,000 a week, the data showed. The highly contagious acute respiratory tract infection, also known as pertussis, may lead to other complications like pneumonia or encephalopathy, which could be fatal, especially for infants up to six months old. There have been reports this season of infants dying or becoming seriously ill. Up to the end of June, four infants aged between less than one and four months were confirmed dead in four prefectures, local media said. - BERNAMA
Sinar Daily
06-07-2025
- Health
- Sinar Daily
Japanese diet may help in fight against depression, study shows
A total of 30.9 per cent of the cohort exhibited depressive symptoms, but those who followed a typical Japanese diet were found to be less likely to do so. 06 Jul 2025 08:00am While there are few studies on the Japanese diet's impact on mental health, such assessments of the Mediterranean diet -- which consists of vegetables, whole grains, olive oil and fish -- and depression have previously been conducted, the institute said. - AFP photo (photo for illustration purpose only) TOKYO - The rate of depressive symptoms was lower among working-age people who consume a Japanese-style diet including rice, miso soup and fish, the first study of its kind recently showed, Kyodo News Agency reported. The Japan Institute for Health Security assessed the benefits of a traditional 'Japanese-style diet' comprising of soy products, cooked vegetables, mushrooms, fish, seaweed and green tea, along with a modified version that added fruit, fresh vegetables and dairy products. A traditional Japanese-style diet, rich in fish, miso soup, and vegetables, is linked to a lower rate of depressive symptoms among working adults, suggesting a positive impact on mental well-being. - Photo illustrated by Sinar Daily While there are few studies on the Japanese diet's impact on mental health, such assessments of the Mediterranean diet -- which consists of vegetables, whole grains, olive oil and fish -- and depression have previously been conducted, the institute said. "Further research is required, but we hope the evidence shown among Japanese people can be used for public health measures in workplaces and areas concerning the prevention of depression," it said in a press release. The self-reported study was conducted among 12,499 employees from five companies, of whom 88 per cent were male with an average age of 42.5 years. A total of 30.9 per cent of the cohort exhibited depressive symptoms, but those who followed a typical Japanese diet were found to be less likely to do so. The researchers made efforts to isolate other potential factors that could influence the results. The institute said certain foods in the diet could be linked to improved well-being. Seaweed, soy products and the folic acid in vegetables assist in releasing neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, while oily fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids has anti-inflammatory effects. - BERNAMA-KYODO More Like This
