134: Hey Japan, are you happy?

If you’ve ever had to endure a Tokyo commute at rush hour, you may not get the sense that the Japanese are very happy. However, Japan Times senior staff writer Alex K.T. Martin has been keeping track of the mood of the nation, and he thinks the country could be a lot happier than we are usually led to believe. 

On this week’s Deep Dive he talks about his visit in the summer to Japan’s “happiest town,” and why exercise and a strong sense of community may have them living an extra 10 years healthier. 

Read More:

• Inside Japan’s happiest town (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times)
• Is Japan happy? (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times)
• Kodoku: The fine line between solitude and loneliness in Japan (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times)

On this episode: 
Alex K.T. Martin: Articles | Twitter
Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter

Transcript: We have recently begun experimenting with transcripts for episodes of Deep Dive. A full transcript of this episode is available on The Japan Times website. Find transcripts useful? Tips for improvement? Contact us to let us know.

Announcements: Get in touch with Oscar and the show at [email protected]. Support the show. Rate, review and share this episode with a friend if you've enjoyed it. Follow us on Twitter, and give us feedback.

This episode of Deep Dive may be supported by advertising based on your location. Advertising is sourced by Audioboom and is not affiliated with The Japan Times.

Photo: Is Japan happy? Western surveys say not really, but is that because the definition of happiness is different here? | GETTY IMAGES