After the Second World War Japanese had health status that was behind that of America because the nation had been hit by the consequences of war. The mortality rates were high and the economy was bad implying that it could not offer a good health care system for its people. The citizens had been affected by missiles among other attacks. However, a turnaround came soon after the war and the construction of Japanese nation came along with a healthy state. At the beginning of 20 th century Japanese health status had become similar to that of several Western nations America being one of them. When Japan saw its reconstruction after the Second World War there was a drastic population increase and according to current statistics that were done in 2016 showing a total of 127,749,000 people (World Health Organization 2019). The mortality rates reduced and life expectancy increased by a great margin where it was initially 60 but it is currently 80.7 in men and 80.0 in women (Suzuki 2018). In this regard there are several issues that America ought to learn from Japan. The paper will therefore explore current Japanese health status, identify its legal as well as political features and finally analyze the disparity between American and Japanese populations.
The current Japanese health status indicates that there has been a prolonged life expectancy among the older adults as indicated in a research done by Tako Suzuki. In the past the author explains that the older population occupied 5% of the total and the life expectancy was approximated to be 60 years. However, the current health status indicates that the older population is 28% of the total while life expectancy is 80 years (Suzuki 2018). It is an indication that the rates of death among the general population has gone down as people live to old age. The rationale behind this health state is not only brought by prolonging of life but also the improvement in reducing infant mortality. One of the most significant issues in the Japanese health is the high rate of depression among women during pregnancy and after child birth. Women in such a state are considered non regular workers and they do not work full time and this affects their income (Inoue, Nishikitani &Tsurugano 2016). As a result they experience high rates of depression because they sometimes do not get employed because they are non- regular workers. There rates of smoking increase and their health status deteriorate (Inoue et al, 2016).
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One of the political issues that have made Japan thrive in its health status is the embracing of a democratic government and the reinstating of the Confucian principles which brought great improvement in the health care system (Bezruchka, Namekata & Sistrom 2018) . The principles have advocated for economic equality which has ensured distribution of wealth among the majority and not being held by a minority like it was in the past. Research indicates that there is a great correlation between income distribution and health status. One of the legal structures that exist in Japan is that there should be no income disparity and that the government should offer security controls and workplace regulations that ensure no exploitations. There is also a demand that there should be loyalty and group commitment towards a healthy nation.
In comparing America to Japan there are some issues that the former needs to embrace from the later. One of the disparities is that while there is greater wealth difference in America Japanese government has put clauses in place that ensures that there is equal distribution of income among its people. As a result there is reduced depression that could emanate from high rates of poverty and this culminates to a healthy nation (Bezruchka et al 2018) . Similarly according to the japans government all the people should enjoy human rights; therefore there is no discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color and social status among others. In this regard every person is entitled to quality health care. On the other hand despite America mentioning about equality and rights there is greater discrimination on the basis of sex and race. Similarly, in Japan the peace clause indicates that the Japanese people will forever renounce war and this has helped it live in peace and therefore enjoy good health. On the contrary America still pursues wars putting its people in trouble such as terror attacks and arbitrary killings.
References
Bezruchka, S., Namekata, T., & Sistrom, M. G. (2018). Interplay of politics and law to promote health: improving economic equality and health: the case of postwar Japan. American Journal of Public Health , 98 (4), 589-594.
Inoue, M., Nishikitani, M., &Tsurugano, S. (2016). Female non-regular workers in Japan: Their current status and health. Industrial Health, 54 (6), 521–527. doi:10.2486/indhealth.2016-0105
Suzuki, T. (2018). Health status of older adults living in the community in Japan: Recent changes and significance in the super-aged society. Geriatrics & Gerontology International, 18 (5), 667–677. doi:10.1111/ggi.13266
Takegata, M., Ohashi, Y., Lazarus, A., & Kitamura, T. (2017). Cross-national differences in psychosocial factors of perinatal depression: A systematic review of India and Japan. healthcare. Healthcare, 5 (4), 91. doi:10.3390/healthcare5040091
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Japan. Retrieved July 4, 2019, from WHO website: https://www.who.int/countries/jpn/en/
