Hi there, and welcome to the latest edition of Shizen Style Weekly, where we talk about developing a natural and Japan-inspired modern creative lifestyle. We’re packing for Japan right now so the family and I will be there for the next few months. I’m excited to be exploring Hokkaido a bit on this trip and then relaxing at our place in the countryside of Fukui. Enjoy the newsletter!

Japan is the world's longest-lived nation.

But here's what most people miss: roughly 55% of Japanese adults don't exercise regularly.

The data doesn't lie. According to research across all Japanese prefectures, the secret to longevity isn't what you think.

Japan's average life expectancy in 2025 stands at approximately 84.8 years—with women reaching 87.9 years and men averaging 81.8 years.

The paradox deepens: Research shows that prefectures with higher ratios of middle-aged individuals engaged in exercise have longer healthy life expectancies. This is especially true among middle-aged males who participate with friends and family.

So exercise matters. But not the way we've been taught.

Watch: The Surprising Secret to a Longer Life Revealed by Jogging

The Japanese approach to longevity through movement isn't about optimization. It's about integration.

A comprehensive study across Japanese prefectures found something counterintuitive: exercise with others—especially friends and family—dramatically increased healthy life expectancy for men. But solitary, metric-driven exercise? Far less impact.

The factor wasn't the exercise itself.

It was the connection.

Jogging, when done right, is a meditation.

Not a workout. Not a calorie burn. Not a fitness optimization.

A meditation.

The research on Japanese longevity points to this: health maintenance is the primary motivation for regular exercisers, especially those in their 50s and 60s. Not weight loss. Not performance metrics.

Maintenance of vitality.

For younger Japanese, walking is the most popular form of exercise among seniors, while jogging is more common among those in their 20s and 30s. But here's the key: it's not about speed or distance.

It's about sustainability.

If you're jogging to "burn fat" or "hit your target heart rate," you're missing the deeper benefit.

Jogging—like any sustainable practice—works when it becomes ritual, not task.

When it connects you to something larger than metrics:

The Practice

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The traditional Japanese concept of yūgen—profound grace and subtlety—applies to movement too. The most powerful exercise isn't the most intense. It's the most sustainable.

Book Recommendation:

"Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life" by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles explores the Okinawan approach to longevity through purpose, community, and gentle movement. Based on interviews with centenarians, it reveals why "ikigai" might be more important than any fitness program.

Find "Ikigai" on Amazon →

The book's central insight: The people who live longest aren't the ones who exercise hardest. They're the ones who never fully retire—staying active, connected, and purposeful.

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Big news: The e-book and paperback edition of my book Seasonal Japanese Garden Design just dropped! After months of requests, it's finally available in a variety of formats.

This book came from years of studying how Japanese gardeners work with seasonal changes instead of fighting them. There's something profound about designing spaces that are meant to transform—cherry blossoms in spring, moss patterns in summer rain, the quiet beauty of winter branches.

If you've been thinking about bringing more seasonal awareness into your space (even if it's just a windowsill), this might be exactly what you need. Check it out here.

Japan teaches us something radical about longevity:

The goal isn't to live forever. The goal is to live fully, until you don't.

Jogging can be part of that fullness.

But only if you jog like you mean to live—connected, present, purposeful.

Not like you're trying to outrun death.

Until next week,

Josh and the Shizen Style Team 🌸

P.S. When Japanese elders in Okinawa were asked their secret to longevity, they didn't mention exercise routines. They talked about friends, gardens, and having something to wake up for. Maybe that's the real secret hiding in plain sight.