Russian Time Magazine

Longevity in Japanese. The answer wasn't in the fish at all

2026-02-20 02:43 HEALTH
When you look at the numbers, it feels almost unreal. According to 2019 data, the average life expectancy in Japan was 87.45 years for women and 81.41 years for men. More than 300 people across the country lived past the age of 110.
For comparison, in the same year, women in Russia lived an average of 78.17 years, while men lived only 68.24. The gap is striking enough to make people search for a miracle explanation.
Many assume the answer is obvious. Fish. Rice. Seaweed. Sushi. Japanese food has long been seen as the gold standard of healthy eating. Around the world, it is associated with slim bodies, strong hearts, and long lives.
But according to a Japanese doctor, the real secret of longevity is something far more unexpected.
It is meat.

Why the Fish Theory Falls Short

Yes, fish is healthy. Yes, the Japanese diet includes plenty of seafood. But this alone does not explain Japan’s extraordinary longevity.
Hideki Wada, a Japanese physician and aging specialist, believes the real story is more complex. In his recent book Seventy Is a Turning Point in Human Aging, he explains that aging speeds up for two main reasons.
The first is loss of activity.
The second is lack of protein.
And both are deeply connected.

What Really Happens After 70

According to Wada, many people reach their seventies and slowly lose motivation. They walk less. Meet fewer people. Leave the house less often. Curiosity fades. Movement decreases.
When motivation drops, physical activity drops too. The brain receives fewer signals. Memory weakens. Emotional stability suffers. This creates a vicious cycle that accelerates aging.
Wada warns that how you move after 80 largely depends on how you live in your seventies. That decade matters more than most people realize.

Why Motivation Needs Fuel

Movement does not happen without energy. And energy does not come from willpower alone. It comes from biology.
One key factor is serotonin, often called the happiness hormone. Serotonin affects mood, motivation, and emotional balance. When serotonin levels are low, people feel tired, unmotivated, and emotionally unstable.
As we age, serotonin levels naturally decline. This increases the risk of depression and apathy, especially in older adults.
According to Wada, diet plays a crucial role here.

The Role of Meat and Protein

Meat contains tryptophan, an amino acid the body uses to produce serotonin. Without enough tryptophan, serotonin levels drop even faster.
Many older adults gradually reduce or completely eliminate meat from their diets. Sometimes it is due to fear of cholesterol. Sometimes because of digestive issues or health beliefs.
Wada argues that this well meaning decision can backfire.
Less meat can mean less protein.
Less protein can mean lower serotonin.
Lower serotonin can mean lower motivation and faster aging.

The Cholesterol Fear Reconsidered

Cholesterol has been labeled the enemy for decades. But Wada reminds readers that cholesterol is also a building block for important hormones, including male hormones.
When cholesterol drops too low, hormone levels may fall as well. This can lead to reduced strength, lower motivation, memory problems, and overall weakness, especially in men.
Some studies have shown that aggressive cholesterol lowering, particularly with medication, can increase the risk of fatigue and sexual dysfunction.
Wada does not suggest eating excessive amounts of meat. He argues for balance and awareness, not extremes.

Why Cutting Meat Can Speed Up Aging

When older adults remove meat from their diet purely for health reasons, they may unknowingly deprive their bodies of essential nutrients. Protein supports muscles, brain function, hormone production, and emotional stability.
This does not mean forcing yourself to eat meat if you truly dislike it. Wada is clear about that. But intentionally avoiding meat out of fear, without medical necessity, may do more harm than good.

A Very Japanese Approach to Aging

What makes Wada’s message powerful is its lack of fanaticism. He does not promote strict diets or rigid rules. He focuses on one simple idea.
Food should support life, movement, and the desire to live.
If a diet makes you weaker, less active, and less joyful, it may not be healthy at all.

Why This Idea Is Spreading Globally

Wada’s perspective resonates far beyond Japan. Many older adults around the world feel pressured by a culture that constantly tells them what not to do. Eat less. Want less. Move less. Expect less.
This mindset, Wada argues, quietly drains life energy.
Longevity is not just about numbers on medical tests. It is about motivation, movement, and joy. Nutrition should protect all three.
Japan’s long life expectancy is not the result of a single miracle food. It is the result of staying active, protecting motivation, and eating in a way that supports both body and mind.

Sometimes, the food we fear most turns out to be exactly what we need to age well.