Genetic issues? Japanese people are getting shorter

When mentioning Japanese people, what is the first impression that comes to mind? Indifference? Strictness? Or something else?

Looking at the long course of history, many people's impression of the Japanese often relates to being "short."

In ancient times, the Japanese were referred to as "Wa," a term that carried an inherent connection to "short stature," reflecting the reality that Japanese people were generally shorter at that time.

In fact, the Japanese themselves are well aware of this issue.

To address the problem of height, the Japanese relied on milk for quite a long time, hoping to increase their overall height through its consumption.

As a result, milk and dairy products became staple items in Japanese households, with nearly every family stocking up on these products in the hope of improving the nation's height problem.

Although the average height of the Japanese population saw a slight increase in a short period, this upward trend seemed to hit a bottleneck at around 1.7 meters.

While some Japanese individuals exceed 1.7 meters in height, overall, the average height of the Japanese population has yet to reach this level.

Before World War II, the average height of the Japanese was about 1.58 meters, which led to their being referred to as "Wa," further reflecting their generally short stature at the time.

However, after World War II, as American aid materials flooded in, the nutritional status of the Japanese improved, especially the supply of milk, which became a key factor in boosting the height of the Japanese population.

With a large intake of milk, the height of the Japanese gradually increased over the following decades.

Today, the average height of Japanese people has reached approximately 1.7 meters, an increase of over ten centimeters compared to before, which is quite an improvement.

It can be said that increasing the intake of dairy products and meat is one of the important reasons for the rise in the height of the Japanese population.

Therefore, the shorter stature of the Japanese people is mainly related to inadequate nutrition in their upbringing.

Of course, genetic factors are also a key influence.

Before World War II, due to Japan's limited land area and the unsuitability of the land for large-scale crop cultivation, there was a shortage of food in the country, leading to severe nutritional deficiencies.

This long-term malnutrition not only resulted in shorter stature for the Japanese at the time but also poor overall physical fitness.

Among the Asian countries, the Japanese ranked near the bottom in terms of average height.

In addition, many Japanese practiced vegetarianism, believing that it could prolong life and reduce the risk of disease.

Although this dietary habit indeed contributed to Japan's high life expectancy globally, along with relatively advanced healthcare, it also limited the intake of protein and other essential nutrients, further restricting opportunities for height growth.

What’s more interesting is that at a certain point in history, the Japanese emperor issued a "meat ban," forbidding the consumption of meat by the population, citing religious reasons.

This policy exacerbated the already malnourished Japanese male population, depriving them of the opportunity to consume protein.

During that period, the average height of Japanese men dropped to around 1.5 meters. Imagine an entire nation's adult male population averaging only 1.5 meters in height – it would be difficult to gain any advantage in war or other fields.

It was not until the Japanese realized the importance of height that they began to actively change their dietary structure.

Thus, the height disadvantage of the Japanese population primarily stems from malnutrition, although genetics also significantly determine their average height.

After the war, the Japanese began to pay more attention to the issue of height and found solutions.

Milk and high-protein foods became staples in every household. Many people familiar with Japanese film and television may notice that almost all characters drink a glass of milk before leaving the house, especially male characters.

This is because in Japan, if a woman’s height exceeds 1.6 meters, she is often considered to have difficulty finding a suitable partner.

Therefore, women usually maintain a lower protein intake to avoid becoming too tall, while men supplement a large amount of protein in the hope of increasing their height.

Thus, over the past century, the average height of the Japanese population has risen from about 1.58 meters to the current 1.7 meters.

While the growth rate has been rapid, it appears that the height increase of the Japanese has plateaued in the 21st century, and there even seems to be a slight downward trend.

Many believe that 1.7 meters is the limit for the average height of the Japanese, and further increases may be difficult to achieve.

The rapid increase in height among the Japanese over the past century is partly due to their relatively low starting point.

However, as height reaches a certain level, the rate of increase naturally slows down.

Additionally, in recent years, the aesthetic trend of "pale, young, and thin" in Japan and South Korea has led many men to abandon the pursuit of a tall, strong physique in favor of a thinner body type.

Achieving such a physique often requires dieting, which leads to insufficient nutrition, further limiting height growth.

Moreover, the increasing work and study pressures in Japan, coupled with intense competition, have caused many people to experience significant psychological stress, and sleep deprivation has become a widespread issue.

Since lack of sleep directly affects height growth, it is not without reason that the average height of the Japanese has stagnated or slightly declined.

From the example of the height of the Japanese population, it is clear that although genes determine a person’s maximum height, postnatal nutrition is equally crucial.

Only by maintaining good habits and consuming adequate nutrition can one help achieve ideal height levels.

Therefore, one should not neglect their health in pursuit of certain external standards, as appearance is for others to see, but health is the foundation of one’s well-being.