Health, longevity and life conditions in Okinawa

"This book is about health and longevity in changing conditions among the people of the island prefecture of Okinawa. This 47th, south-western-most prefecture of Japan, is known as a region with a rapid increase in longevity after World War II. The number of people who have reached the age of 100 years, centenarians, is internationally high, and low rates of mortality in, for example, heart and cerebrovascular diseases, have been characteristic of the island prefecture. This is the longevity face of Okinawa, which in 1995 led to the proclamation of Okinawa as a World Longevity Region. Since then, however, changes in the longevity face have have taken place because statisitics have revealed that the health among men is in danger. The longevity face has at least for men been sorely wounded. The changed health of especially men in middle age is of the greatest concern in health and social policy."--Publisher's description.