Japanese Diabetes

Health care issues are one of the most concerning issues among the various social and economic issues the world is facing today. There was a time when health care was not provided in a modern and organized form. Nonetheless, with the passage of time, not only the health problems increased but also the health care services developed and are provided under various private as well as local organizations. However, health issues vary from one country to another due to their specific geographical setup and environment. At the same time, immigration extensively transfers various health issues from one country to another, from one culture to another due to the social interaction of people living in the society as well as other personal and physical contacts. For instance, many sexually transmitted diseases are transferred from one place to another with the migration of such patients and their physical interaction to other people living in the society. Moreover, there are many cultures and societies where the ratio of specific diseases and health issues are at a higher percentage then other societies. For instance, the health issues of teenage pregnancies, which includes parenting issues, health of the baby as well as mother or other related issues at a higher risk in America then any other country. Similarly, in Japan among the various health issues the percentage of diabetic patients is higher then any other country. Where many factors are jointly the causes for the high risk of diabetes among the Japanese-Americans, which specifically include the immigration influx of Japanese to America during the 1800-1900 as well as the religious and cultural differences between both these nations as both inherit separate cultures of health problems.

However, the Japanese started migrating to America in search of a better and prosperous life. They were influenced by the freedom of expression and liberal and independent life style at America. Basically many Japanese realized this with the rapid urbanization and industrialization after the period of Meiji Restoration in the mid of 1800. This rapid change of industrialization resulted into immense social disruption with massive decline in agricultural sector. (Japanese Immigration: Introduction, accessed on 09-23-04.) Therefore not only the farmers were forced to leave their lands but also the labors and workers were expelled out from their respective jobs. So foreign competition and the search of a better life style motivated them to migrate towards the economically as well as politically and socially strong America. Therefore, Japanese started immigrating to America from the late 19th C to the early 20th C, which includes 3 complete generations. These are the Issei who belong to the roots who were basically born in Japan but migrated to USA and then settled there forever. Where the second generation is known as Nisei who were born in America and become American nationals by birth. (Marriane, K. G. and Tanabe, M.D. 2000.) Sansei and Kibbei are the latest generation rooted to the Japanese culture living in America. These are basically the actual Japanese Americans. Though they are born in America but posses the inherited cultural roots to Japan and earn their higher education from Japan and then return back to America for strengthening their career life. (Fujimoto et al., 1987)

Japanese Health Issues and Life Style

Japanese basically are not much emotionally expressive by nature therefore, they do not express about their illness and have generally tolerate and posses self-indulgence. (Caudill, 1976). Usually the Japanese are not much inclined towards the basic health care treatment, at the same time they do not realize to bring any constructive changes in their orthopedic and dental care as present in the American society. However, in America health care is taken more seriously so the immigrant families fully enjoy the health care services in America. Therefore the Japanese Americans benefit a lot from the health care services provided to them as compared to the Japanese living in Japan. This is due to the difference in the cultural background and the religious beliefs as Japanese originally focus more on its religious philosophies and traditional culture for providing health care.

However, due to the different life style and impact of the dominant traditional religious culture in Japan, many diseases and health issues are in direct relation to the very life style in Japan. For instance, health issues associated to stomach cancer, hypertension, diabetes and other stress related illness is due to the malnutrition, imbalanced lifestyle and unhealthy dietary patterns. (Sharts Engel, Kojima & Martinson, 1986). Therefore their religious cultural impact was so intense that the Japanese use to involve private investigators to search the inherited cause for any disease instead of focusing on their