Health
Pandoravirus: The melting Arctic is releasing ancient germs – how worried should we be?
Scientists have recently revived several large viruses that had been buried in the frozen Siberian ground (permafrost) for tens of thousands of years. The youngest virus to be revived was a sprightly 27,000 years old. And the oldest – a Pandoravirus – was around 48,500 years old. This is the oldest virus ever to… Read
Hypertension, diabetes, stroke kill more people than infectious diseases and should get a Global Fund
Noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular conditions account for 41 million deaths each year. That’s more than 70% of all deaths globally. Most of these deaths (77%) are in low-income and middle-income countries – including those in Africa. These conditions are currently more prevalent than infectious diseases. Sixty-seven percent occur before the… Read
Survey says kids struggle with Japanese toilets, contributing to constipation
Japan’s feature-rich toilets, with such luxurious comforts as heated seats and gentle sprays of butt-washing water, are a source of technological prestige for the nation. However, the Japanese phrase washiki toire, which translates to “Japanese-style toilet,” doesn’t describe those high-tech marvels, but rather a much simpler fixture that’s basically just a trough that… Read
Don’t uninstall that COVID-tracking app yet, warns Japanese government
Back in June of 2020 the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare released the COVID-19 Contact-Confirming Application or COCOA for short. It was quickly discovered that an actual cup of cocoa would be more effective at curbing the disease than this app, with only 0.03 percent of infections having been confirmed on it… Read
Video game to detect early stages of glaucoma developed by Tohoku University
Many of us as children have probably been scolded for playing too many video games with threats that it will “wreck your eyesight.” There’s still some debate over how true or untrue that is, but a new game has been developed that may definitely save people’s eyesight. Meteor Blaster is a a simple smartphone… Read
Tips to relieve back pain caused by working from home
Working from home has become the new normal for so many people in Tokyo, and we’re all aware of the pros and cons (unlimited snack breaks fall into both categories). For the last few years, many of us have found ourselves reluctantly leading a more sedentary lifestyle, and without the… Read
Heatstroke in Japan: What to do and how to avoid it
Summers in Japan always feel overbearing, and it feels like every year is hotter than the last. But that feeling is probably correct this time. This past June saw the country’s highest temperatures on record for the month in an intense heatwave. What also broke June records was the number of heatstroke… Read
Matcha improves sleep quality, social cognition, researchers say, and you don’t need to drink it
Japan has loved matcha for centuries, and with its recent rise to stardom as a dessert flavor, it’s arguably more popular than ever. So green tea fans will be happy to hear that new research suggests matcha doesn’t just taste good, but is good for you in some very important ways. Tea producer Itoen and MCBI,… Read
Getting the contraceptive pill in Japan
The percentage of Japanese women who take oral contraception is still minimal in comparison to women in the West, where it reigns as one of the most popular forms of birth control. But fear not ladies, here are the ins and outs of purchasing birth control pills in Japan. Birth… Read
Quick guide: Know and understand food allergies In Japan
Until only a few decades ago, there were no strict guidelines regarding food labels and allergies in Japan. In many cases, it was assumed that common sense directed food choices (given that you knew your allergies), thus oftentimes limiting people with allergies in a big way. Today, however, most restaurants… Read
