Health Status Differences in Eastern and Western Japan from the Perspective of Cultural and Ethnic Origin of the People

Abstract

Migration patterns of ancient peoples to Japan resulted in peoples of differing cultural and ethnic origin inhabiting Eastern and Western Japan. This differing heritage distinguishes lifestyle in these areas to this day. The people in these areas may also be distinguished by health status. Comparison of age adjusted death rates reveals, for example, a much higher incidence of stroke in Eastern Japan, as compared to Western Japan, whereas liver cirrhosis is much higher in Western Japan than in Eastern Japan. This research was conducted to explore the influence of variables of cultural and ethnic origin on the health status of Japanese people in Eastern and Western Japan. Differences such as dietary differences, differences in dialect, and differences in blood type and skull measurement were considered. Another difference of culturally related significance is in plant life, and this difference was also considered. The statistical tool used in analysis was Hayashi's Quantification on Response Pattern. Results of Hayashi's Quantification on Response Pattern. Results of Hayashi's Quantification III revealed the latent effect of the East-West factor and the urban-rural factor on health status differences and differences in cultural and ethnic origin. The relationship between the health condition of the Japanese people and the cultural variables was also confirmed.